On May 5, local time in Guinea, sparks flew at the joint of two 25-meter steel rails at the track-laying site of the Massila-Siguiri Railway. After continuous operations by the rail welding machine, the seamless connection of the two steel rails was successfully completed, marking the official start of rail welding construction on the Massila-Siguiri Railway in Guinea, which is constructed by the Eighth Branch Company of China Railway Fourth Bureau. This laid a solid foundation for the subsequent surge in construction activity.

Rail welding machine is welding rail operations

The newly constructed Massila-Siguiri Railway, stretching from the Port of Marébaya in Guinea to the Simandou Mining Area in the east, traverses Guinea, passing through 12 provinces and cities in four regions including Kindia, Mamou, Faranah, and Kankan. There are a total of 15 stations along the entire route. The Eighth Branch Company of China Railway Fourth Bureau is responsible for constructing 900 kilometers of main track laying, 3.3 million cubic meters of ballast, and the erection of 5,712 T-beams.

Maxi Railway construction workers roughing the rail

The rail welding operation utilizes a new type of steel rail flash welding machine set. To accommodate the construction of the Massila-Siguiri Railway, the rail welding machine set has been modified to be dual-purpose for both highway and railway use, with electronic normalization, allowing for seamless switching between highway and railway rail welding conditions to achieve uninterrupted track welding construction. It boasts a wide range of applications, short welding time, high welding efficiency, low voltage fluctuation, zero emissions, and low noise, minimizing harmful smoke and dust emissions and ensuring the occupational health of rail welding personnel. In the construction of the Massila-Siguiri Railway, the project is expected to deploy six rail welding machine sets, requiring a total of 67,000 welded joints.

Rail drop test

During the construction process, the Eighth Branch Company of China Railway Fourth Bureau strictly follows the project construction goals and milestone deadlines, strengthens construction organization, coordinates resource allocation, advances high-quality standardization of project management, clarifies responsibilities, focuses on key areas, and overcomes difficulties. With the best technology, optimal management, and the fastest speed, it fully guarantees the project schedule requirements and ensures the successful completion of the project.

In March 2024, Maxi Railway steel rails and track plates entered the market

Since resuming work on October 1, 2023, the Massila-Siguiri Railway Project Department of the Eighth Branch Company of China Railway Fourth Bureau has actively expanded communication channels and mobilized all employees to focus on the goals of "ensuring safety, quality, and opening." They have clarified their thinking, taken proactive measures, increased the investment of personnel and equipment at the site, and reasonably planned the construction schedule according to construction milestones. By prioritizing safety and enhancing quality, they have further motivated all construction personnel and comprehensively promoted the progress of construction at the site. Track laying, bridge erection, and material preparation are all progressing in an orderly and rapid manner, striving to ensure the opening goal in November 2025 is achieved.

The Massila-Siguiri Railway is an important supporting project for realizing large-scale mining and sea-railway combined transportation of the world-class Simandou Iron Ore Deposit. It is also the longest modern railway constructed in Guinea to date. As a new strategic transportation corridor for iron ore in the world, upon completion, it will further strengthen Guinea's dominant position in the global iron ore market. It is of great significance for building Guinea's comprehensive transportation system, developing industrial and agricultural economic corridors, deeply implementing the "Belt and Road" initiative, and promoting local economic and social development.

Source: Eighth Branch Company of China Railway Fourth Bureau