Benin revives hopes of getting rail back on track

At the old train station in Benin's economic capital Cotonou, a rundown locomotive imported from France in the 1960s arduously roars to life, ready to haul 600 tonnes of goods to an inland city.

"If it doesn't break down, it will get there in 12 hours," says Marcel Agon, who has been stationmaster since 1985, about the 430 kilometre trip to Parakou.

Only 20 good trains leave the small terminus each month, yet a fine new regional express passenger train with blue seats and bright paintwork, also from France, has never rolled out of Cotonou.