CAMRAIL
CAMRAIL is the exclusive concessionaire of Cameroon's 1,000 km national railway, operating passenger and freight rail services across 38 stations under a Public-Private Partnership with the Government of Cameroon, serving over 900,000 travelers and 1.6 million tonnes of freight annually as a subsidiary of Africa Global Logistics (MSC Group).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersYaoundé, Cameroon
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What CAMRAIL does
CAMRAIL is the exclusive concessionaire of Cameroon's national railway network under a Public-Private Partnership with the Government of Cameroon signed on January 19, 1999, following a three-year competitive tender. The company operates a 1,000 km rail corridor linking Douala port to Ngaoundéré, comprising 38 stations, and provides both passenger and freight rail services. Its core product portfolio includes Train Express (standard passenger service with a loyalty program offering a free ticket after 10 paid trips), Train Couchette (overnight sleeper service), Transcam I and Transcam II (regional passenger corridors), Freight Rail Transport (containers and bulk cargo), and specialized Bauxite Mining Transport for Canyon Resources/CAMALCO. Digital services include MyCamrail (self-service ticket booking) and an Online Wagon Request platform for freight customers.
The company monetizes rail transport through three revenue streams: passenger fares (transaction-based via station offices, partner outlets, and online), freight tariffs (transaction-based on container and bulk transport), and concession-related payments to the State of Cameroon (annual royalties, taxes, and duties averaging 10 billion FCFA). Customer segments span individual travelers, commercial freight shippers, and large mining operators. CAMRAIL transports more than 900,000 passengers and 1,600,000 tonnes of freight annually, with a workforce of 1,500 direct employees and 4,000 subcontracting staff. The company maintains a 42.8% investment in Terminal Bois du Port de Douala S.A., securing port-side logistics access, and operates IMEFAC, a vocational railway training institute in Central Africa.
CAMRAIL is a subsidiary of Africa Global Logistics (AGL), which belongs to MSC Group (the world's largest container shipping line); ownership transferred from Bolloré group to AGL in approximately 2022. The company's stated annual infrastructure investment of 12 billion FCFA supports ongoing PQ2 rail renewal and modernization programs. In 2026, Canyon Resources increased its equity stake to 26.9% and a term-sheet was signed for long-term bauxite transport from the Minim Martap mine, positioning CAMRAIL at the center of Cameroon's mining export logistics chain.
CAMRAIL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CAMRAIL
- Legal name
- CAMRAIL
- Website
- https://camrail.cm
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CAMRAIL is the exclusive concessionaire of Cameroon's 1,000 km national railway, operating passenger and freight rail services across 38 stations under a Public-Private Partnership with the Government of Cameroon, serving over 900,000 travelers and 1.6 million tonnes of freight annually as a subsidiary of Africa Global Logistics (MSC Group).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CAMRAIL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rail Transport Services
- NAICS
- Line-Haul Railroads (482111)
- SIC
- Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Unit Train & Dedicated Contract Rail Services (TLADACAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Private/Concession Commuter Rail Operators (THAIACAB)
Keywords
Where CAMRAIL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Yaoundé
- HQ country
- Cameroon
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
CAMRAIL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Passenger Transport: Revenue from transporting travelers by rail across Cameroon's railway network, including ticket sales through station offices, partner outlets, and online self-service booking.
- Freight Transport: Revenue from transporting goods by rail including containers and bulk cargo between Douala and Ngaoundéré, with online wagon request capabilities for commercial customers.
- Concession Royalties and Government Payments: Annual payments to the State of Cameroon including royalties, taxes, and duties as part of the public-private partnership concession agreement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Train Express Loyalty Program - Free ticket after 10 paid trips |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
CAMRAIL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CAMRAIL operates Cameroon's national railway network under a Public-Private Partnership concession granted in 1999, providing passenger rail services (Train Express, Train Couchette, Transcam I and Transcam II corridors) connecting Douala, Yaoundé and Ngaoundéré, alongside freight rail services for containers, bulk cargo, and specialized mine-to-port logistics. The company manages 1,000 km of track across 38 stations and supports both individual travelers and commercial freight customers through station ticket offices, partner outlets, and digital self-service platforms.
Product overview
CAMRAIL operates as a multimodal land transport company offering passenger and freight rail services across Cameroon. The core product portfolio consists of Train Express (standard passenger service with loyalty program), Train Couchette (overnight sleeper service), Freight Rail Transport (bulk and container goods), Transcam I and II (regional passenger corridors), and specialized Bauxite Mining Transport for the mining industry. Digital services include MyCamrail (online ticket booking) and Online Wagon Request (freight logistics platform). Training is provided through IMEFAC vocational institute. The company operates under a Public-Private Partnership concession since 1999, serving Cameroon's national railway network as a subsidiary of Africa Global Logistics (AGL).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Train Express Passenger rail service connecting major cities including Douala, Yaoundé, and Ngaoundéré, with a loyalty program offering free tickets after 10 paid trips. Designed for individual travelers seeking comfortable intercity transport.
- Train Couchette Sleeper train service for overnight journeys, with tariff schedules available from Ngaoundéré. Designed for long-distance travelers requiring overnight accommodation.
- Transcam I Passenger service corridor connecting Douala to Yaoundé with regular community engagement and service improvement initiatives. Targeted at commuters and intercity travelers along the Douala–Yaoundé axis.
- Transcam II Rail passenger corridor serving additional regional routes with community sensitization programs. Targeted at travelers on regional routes beyond the Douala–Yaoundé corridor.
- Freight Rail Transport Rail freight services for goods transportation including bulk and container shipping between Douala and Ngaoundéré. Designed for commercial shippers requiring cost-effective logistics solutions.
- Bauxite Mining Transport Specialized rail transport service for bauxite ore from Minim Martap mine to Port of Douala. Designed for large-scale mining operators such as Canyon Resources/CAMALCO requiring dedicated mine-to-port logistics.
- MyCamrail Online self-service platform for purchasing train tickets at station offices, partner locations, and directly on the website. Designed for individual travelers seeking digital booking.
- Online Wagon Request Digital platform for requesting rail wagons to transport goods by container or bulk, available for transit and local routes between Douala and Ngaoundéré at preferential prices. Designed for commercial freight customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Transports over 900,000 travelers per year
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CAMRAIL
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CAMRAIL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
CAMRAIL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- CAMALCO (Canyon Resources)coreCAMRAIL signed a term-sheet with CAMALCO defining conditions for transporting bauxite from the Minim Martap mine to the Port of Douala. CAMALCO is the Cameroonian subsidiary of Australia's Canyon Resources developing the billion-tonne bauxite project.
- Africa Global Logistics (AGL)coreCAMRAIL is a subsidiary of Africa Global Logistics (AGL), which itself belongs to MSC group. AGL has been the majority shareholder since CAMRAIL's concession began in 1999, providing strategic direction and group resources.
- Government of CamerooncorePublic-private partnership since January 19, 1999 where CAMRAIL operates the national railway network as concessionaire, paying annual royalties, taxes, and duties to the State.
- Terminal Bois du Port de Douala S.A.majorCAMRAIL has a 42.8% investment in Terminal Bois du Port de Douala S.A. for approximately A$0.8 million, securing port infrastructure access for mine-to-port logistics.
- IMEFAC (Institut de Formation Professionnelle aux Métiers Ferroviaires en Afrique Centrale)majorPartnership for railway professional training including recruitment of aide-conducteurs and agents manœuvres, with joint examinations and admission processes.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CAMRAIL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SITARAIL: Rail concessionaire operating the Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridor in Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso, also part of Africa Global Logistics (MSC Group). Directly comparable as a sister rail concession under the same parent with similar freight and passenger rail operations in West Africa.
- Benirail: Concessionaire operating rail freight services on Benin's network, with strong historical links to the Bolloré/AGL rail concession model. Comparable as a West African rail concession with similar PPP structure and freight focus.
- TransNamib Holdings: Namibian state-owned railway operator running both freight (mining and bulk) and passenger services across a national network. Comparable business mix of mining-linked freight haulage and passenger rail, and similar long-haul network economics.
Broad incumbents
- Africa Global Logistics (AGL): Parent company of CAMRAIL and a major multimodal logistics operator across Africa, including port terminals, logistics, and rail. Comparable as the broader group defining CAMRAIL's strategic and capital allocation context.
- Kenya Railways Corporation: State-owned national railway operator in Kenya running both freight (notably the Standard Gauge Railway for SGR cargo) and commuter rail services. Comparable as an African national railway combining freight and passenger operations over a defined network.
- Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC): Tanzanian state-owned rail operator providing freight and passenger services, including the new standard gauge railway project connecting Dar es Salaam to inland regions. Comparable as an East African national rail concession/operator with significant mining and bulk freight.
- Bolloré Africa Railways: Historical parent rail platform of CAMRAIL under Bolloré Transport & Logistics before the AGL/MSC transition in 2022. Comparable as the legacy concession model CAMRAIL operated under for over two decades.
Emerging players
- TransAfricaRail: Emerging African rail and logistics venture developing cross-border rail corridors in Southern and Central Africa. Comparable as a peer exploring mine-to-port and corridor-based rail economics similar to CAMRAIL's CAMALCO partnership.
Regional players
- Metrorail (PRASA, South Africa): South African passenger rail operator (PRASA's Metrorail division) running commuter services across major metros. Comparable as a large-scale African passenger rail operator, though focused on commuter rather than long-distance traffic.
- Ethio-Djibouti Railways (EDR): Joint Chinese-Ethiopian standard-gauge railway operating freight and passenger services between Addis Ababa and Djibouti port. Comparable as an African national railway providing mine/agriculture-to-port freight with long-distance passenger services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CAMRAIL social profiles
Digital presenceCAMRAIL compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CAMRAIL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CAMRAIL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
CAMRAIL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CAMRAIL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CAMRAIL
What does CAMRAIL do?
CAMRAIL operates Cameroon's national railway network under a Public-Private Partnership concession granted in 1999, providing passenger rail services (Train Express, Train Couchette, Transcam I and Transcam II corridors) connecting Douala, Yaoundé and Ngaoundéré, alongside freight rail services for containers, bulk cargo, and specialized mine-to-port logistics. The company manages 1,000 km of track across 38 stations and supports both individual travelers and commercial freight customers through station ticket offices, partner outlets, and digital self-service platforms.
Is CAMRAIL a public or private company?
CAMRAIL is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CAMRAIL founded?
CAMRAIL was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CAMRAIL based?
CAMRAIL is headquartered in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in the Africa region.
How does CAMRAIL make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Passenger Transport is the primary driver. The others are freight Transport and concession Royalties and Government Payments.
Who are CAMRAIL's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SITARAIL, Benirail and TransNamib Holdings. Broad incumbents are Africa Global Logistics (AGL), Kenya Railways Corporation, Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) and Bolloré Africa Railways. TransAfricaRail is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Metrorail (PRASA, South Africa) and Ethio-Djibouti Railways (EDR).
Does CAMRAIL have an API?
No public API is recorded for CAMRAIL.
What industry is CAMRAIL in?
CAMRAIL's product category is Rail Transport Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADACAK, Unit Train & Dedicated Contract Rail Services, with a secondary code of THAIACAB, Private/Concession Commuter Rail Operators. Its NAICS code is 482111 and its SIC code is 4011.