Réunion (France)
Country Details
See Wikipedia. Réunion is an overseas département of France.
Railway system
There is now no "national" railway but at maximum there was an over 120km Narrow Gauge line around the western coast of the Island. Its Wikipédia history is here but the last section closed on 31 December 1963.
Tourist railways
A tourist service commenced on a re-laid 4km stretch of the above based on Grande-Chaloupe but had ceased by 1996 due to a combination of weak bridges and nesting Salanganes rare birds in one of the tunnels used. So it was unexpected to find a YouTube video dated September 2024 of one of the original Railcars coupled to a small diesel running on tracks at Grande Chaloupe station. The length of track available is unknown [press comment "enjoyed a ride of a few minutes" with footage showing traversing a tunnel and a small viaduct] but it appears to be an irregular event, last known on 6 April 2025 so check their Facebook page or website. Report updated: May 2025
Metro and light rail systems
Metro Express Mauritius: A 29 km. light rail between Port-Louis (Place d'Armes) and Curepipe with a short branch from Rose Hill Central to Réduit (Mahatma Gandhi). See also UrbanRail although note from Place d-Armes to Aapravasi Ghat in Port Loius has NOT opened [see below].
Between Port-Louis Victoria and Quatre Bornes this is built partly on the formation of the Mauritius Government Midlands Railway, also Standard Gauge, with last passenger services Port-Louis to Curepipe on 31 March 1956 and freight until 1964.
- Gauge: standard
- Electrification: 750V DC overhead
Recent and Future Changes
Recent Changes
The Metro Express Mauritius's 3.2 km Rose Hill Central - Réduit (Mahatma Gandhi) branch, plus a short extension to Port Louis Victora – Place d'Armes (possible temporary terminus, see below), opened on 23 January 2023.
Future Changes
It is planned to construct one stop further north in Port Louis to Aapravasi Ghat to serve the North Bus station but the formation beyond the current temporary [?] terminus at Place d'Armes would involve taking part of a World Heritage site and UNESCO have objected. Place d'Armes is around 200m short of the proposed terminus and although a January 2024 visitor advised there were no signs of onwards construction, maps in trams and route direction signs show Aapravasi Ghat.
Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
None known.
