Transport in Libya

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Contents 1 Railways 1.1 Railway links with adjacent countries 2 Highways 3 Waterways 4 Pipelines 5 Ports and harbours 5.1 Mediterranean Sea 6 Merchant marine: 7 Airports 7.1 Airports - with paved runways 7.2 Airports - with unpaved runways 8 See also 9 References

[edit] Railways

Libya has had no railway in operation since 1965, all previous small systems having been dismantled. Current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area. There has been little progress, however. Other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion originally set for mid-1994. Libya signed contracts with Bahne of Egypt and Jez Sistemas Ferroviarios in 1998 for the supply of crossings and pointwork.

[edit] Railway links with adjacent countries

• Algeria - no
• Chad - no
• Egypt - no - proposed
• Niger - no
• Sudan - no
• Tunisia - no - proposed

[edit] Highways

There are about 83,200 km of roads in Libya, 47,590km of which are surfaced. The best roads run along the coast between Tripoli and Tunis in Tunisia; also between Benghazi and Tobruk, connecting with Alexandria in Egypt. A fairly efficient bus services operates along these routes, with two main bus transport companies. One covers long-distance, international routes, while the other is chiefly engaged in shorter trips between towns. Bus fares are low and the standard of comfort, particularly on international routes is good, with air-conditioned vehicles and good service.

Taxis are available in the larger towns, and are usually hired on a shared basis, although individual hire can be negotiated. Driving skills of taxi drivers are extremely variable. Taxis may have meters, but these are rarely in use. Car hire for self-drive is not recommended in Libya, although it is possible to hire a vehicle from agents in larger hotels. Vehicles are often old and poorly-maintained, however, and are unequal to long-distance driving. Driving itself can be hazardous and there is a high rate of road accidents. Total: 83,200 km
Paved: 47,590 km
Unpaved: 35,610 km (1996 est.)

[edit] Waterways

There are no waterways in Libya.

[edit] Pipelines

condensate 225 km; gas 3,611 km; oil 7,252 km (2004)

[edit] Ports and harbours

[edit] Mediterranean Sea

• Al Khums
• Banghazi
• Darnah
• Marsa al Burayqah
• Misratah
• Ra's Lanuf
• Tobruk
• Tripoli
• Zuwarah

[edit] Merchant marine:

Total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 96,062 GRT/88,760 DWT

By type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Turkey 2, UAE 1) (2005)

[edit] Airports

139 (2005) Most international flights arrive in and through Tripoli International Airport.

[edit] Airports - with paved runways

Total: 59 over 3,047 m: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2005)

[edit] Airports - with unpaved runways

Total: 80
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 18 (2005)

[edit] See also

• Libya

[edit] References

This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.