Libreville (Owendo) to Franceville
Trains link Libreville with Franceville several nights a week, either the faster Train Express Trans-Ogooue (formerly Ntsa Express) or the all-stations Train Omnibus l'Equateur. The station at Libreville is Owendo, which is about 4 or 5 miles south of Libreville itself. Although most trains run overnight, there are no sleeping berths, only seats. Feedback would be appreciated if you use these trains. You can check these times at www.setrag.ga.
Libreville ► Franceville |
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Km |
Train: |
Train Express Trans-Ogooue VIP, 1st, 2nd, restaurant |
Train Omnibus l'Equateur 1st, 2nd, restaurant |
Days of running: |
Mon, Wed |
Thur, Sun |
|
Train number: |
111/311 |
433/733 |
|
0 |
Owendo (Libreville) |
17:30 |
17:30 |
182 |
Ndjolé |
21:10 |
21:00 |
338 |
Booué |
01:00 |
00:25 |
484 |
Lastoursville |
03:30 |
03:05 |
619 |
Moanda |
05:40 |
05:40 |
669 |
Franceville |
06:20 |
06:20 |
Express: VIP class, 1st class, 2nd class, restaurant car, in cars built in Germany in 2017.
Omnibus: VIP class, 1st class & 2nd class in some cars built in Korea in 2011, and some 2nd hand 1960s cars from France.
Franceville ► Libreville |
||
Train: |
Train Express Trans-Ogooue VIP, 1st, 2nd, restaurant |
Train Omnibus l'Equateur 1st, 2nd, restaurant |
Days of running: |
Tue, Thur |
Mon, Fri |
Train number: |
212/412 |
132/532 |
Franceville |
17:30 |
17:30 |
Moanda |
18:15 |
18:15 |
Lastoursville |
20:35 |
20:45 |
Booué |
23:30 |
23:25 |
Ndjolé |
02:35 |
02:42 |
Owendo (Libreville) |
05:40 |
06:10 |
How much does it cost?
Owendo to Franceville |
VIP seat |
1st class seat |
2nd class seat |
Express: |
64,300 CFA ($114) |
56,300 CFA ($102) |
42,200 CFA ($81) |
Omnibus: |
56,300 CFA |
47,200 CFA ($86) |
33,100 CFA ($64) |
Infants under 4 free. Children 4-11 half price. You can check these fares at www.setrag.ga.
How to buy tickets...
-
You can buy tickets at the station, but make sure you bring the passports (or photocopies of the passports) of all passengers.
-
To arrange tickets in advance, try the following travel agency:
NgondeTour
Galeries Maxime Montee de LouisInfoline: (+241) 06 57 39 66
www.ngondetour.com
Luggage...
Up to 10Kg of hand luggage can be taken onto the train with you. Up to 30Kg can be checked before departure for a CFA 1300 registration fee and CFA 500 wrapping fee per item. You need to check your bags in at the station at least an hour or two before departure. If you have a 1st class or VIP class ticket there is a 1st class lounge you can use at Owendo to wait for your train. Feedback would be appreciated.
What are the trains like?
The express train was re-equipped in 2017 with modern air-conditioned German-built cars. 1st & 2nd class is provided, both are comfortable although only seats are provided, no sleeping berths. There is currently no sign of VIP class cars on the express train even though VIP fares are still quoted, it's possible the VIP cars are still to be delivered. New restaurant cars should be delivered by the end of 2017. The train omnibus uses older cars, mainly French-built, but they are still comfortable. No alcohol is allowed on board these trains.
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The air-conditioned Train Express, newly-delivered in 2017. Photo courtesy of Rémi Favre... |
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Train Express, new 2017 1st class... Photo courtesy of Rémi Favre |
Another shot of the new 1st class on the express. Courtesy of Stuart Jarvis. |
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The view along the track at Lope station. Photo courtesy of Stuart Jarvis... |
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1st class on the Train Omnibus... Photo courtesy of Stuart Jarvis |
SETRAG locomotive... Photo courtesy of Clive Leatherdale |
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The Train Omnibus, using older cars. Photo courtesy of Melinda Barry... |
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Owendo station, some 4 miles from Libreville... Photo courtesy of Ann Johnson |
Owendo station... Photo courtesy of Ann Johnson |
Traveller's reports...
Traveller Clive Leatherdale reports, "Previous guidebooks have suggested the train is decrepit and prone to breakdown and delay. To my untrained eye, the train looked modern and reliable. On the day I visited the station it arrived on schedule to the minute. Owendo station struck me by its cleanliness and efficiency, and Gabon seems proud of its railway."
More information...
If anyone has any more information. photos or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me!
Useful
country information
Train operator: |
SETRAG, www.setrag.ga. |
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Time zone: |
GMT+1 all year |
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Dialling code: |
+241 |
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Currency: |
£1 = approx 785 CFA Francs. Currency converter |
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Tourist information: |
|
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Visas: |
UK citizens need a visa for Gabon. Gabonese embassy, 27 Elvaston Place, London SW7 5NL, tel. 020 7823 9986. If arriving in Libreville by air you can het an e-visa at https://evisa.dgdi.ga. |
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Page last updated: |
2 January 2022. |
Hotels
in Gabon...
Other hotel sites worth trying...
-
www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
-
www.booking.com is my own preferred hotel booking system (Hotels Combined being a search/comparison system). It has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries worldwide, useful online customer reviews of each hotel, and decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras such as taxes (a pet hate of mine is systems that show one price, then charge you another!).
Backpacker hostels...
-
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
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In
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Columbus Direct.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see
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You
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If you live in the USA try
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