Market Overview
Libya planned an ambitious national rail network before the 2011 civil conflict, with multiple contracts awarded to European and Chinese companies for new standard gauge lines connecting coastal cities and the interior. Construction was halted by the conflict and has not resumed at scale. The planned network included coastal lines from Ras Ajdir (Tunisia border) to the Egyptian border, as well as interior connections to sub-Saharan Africa. Libya has no currently operational passenger rail system. The restoration of political stability is the prerequisite for reactivating rail investment. When reconstruction begins, Libya's oil revenues and strategic position as a North Africa transport corridor make it a potentially significant rail market. Chinese, Italian, and Korean contractors were among those with pre-conflict rail contracts in Libya.