Camrail Showcases Modern Railway Maintenance: A Must-See for African Travel Professionals
On January 16, 2025, Camrail hosted an impressive delegation of 20 journalists from both national and international media for a comprehensive press tour. This exclusive event offered a rare glimpse into the state-of-the-art maintenance facilities located in Bassa, Douala, showcasing the company’s advancements in railway technology and operations.
The tour commenced with an insightful presentation by the Materials Department, setting the stage for the delegation to explore two pivotal workshops. The first stop was the Pneumatic Workshop, where a dedicated team of six mechanics specializes in the meticulous maintenance of braking systems for locomotives and wagons. Following this, the group visited the Thermal Workshop, staffed by ten skilled technicians who maintain diesel locomotive engines, mechanized equipment, and generator vans through rigorous qualitative and quantitative maintenance processes.
According to a media release from Camrail, their central workshops in Bassa are acclaimed as the largest modern railway maintenance facilities in sub-Saharan Africa. These workshops employ cutting-edge technologies, including metrology and ultrasonic inspection, to uphold the highest standards of maintenance for both motorized and towed equipment. Impressively, the workshops conduct a minimum of 520 inspections and 226 overhauls each year, demonstrating their crucial role in enhancing regional railway operations.
Samy Adama Soro, the Director of Materials at Camrail, elaborated on the various maintenance operations conducted within their workshops. He explained, “In our pneumatic and thermal workshops, we perform three types of overhauls: general, limited, and accidental. General overhauls are comprehensive operations that require extended time in the workshop, whereas accidental overhauls are reactive and curative in nature.” This structured approach to maintenance ensures the reliability and safety of the railway services provided.
The press tour not only showcased the expertise of Camrail’s workforce but also emphasized the company's unwavering commitment to enhancing railway maintenance practices across the region. With its cutting-edge facilities and highly trained technicians, Camrail continues to be a pivotal player in the railway sector of sub-Saharan Africa.
For travel agents and industry professionals, staying informed about Camrail’s innovations and operational capabilities presents valuable opportunities. By promoting these advancements, agents can attract tourists interested in the transport infrastructure and the broader development of the railway sector in Africa, enriching their travel experiences with insights into this vital industry.
