Travel Madagascar

© Madagascar Travel Guide

The train between Fianarantsoa and Manakara is the only track that still transports passengers. Theoretically, the ride takes about 8 - 12 hours, but practically, it could take much longer. It is therefore risky to organise a tour around it, unless you are ready to skip the train ride at the worst case, in order to keep the schedule for the rest of the tour. If you are keen on train riding, certainly the trip to Manakara is well worth if you bring sufficient time and patience!
The train leaves Fianarantsoa train station Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays  at 7 am and gets back from Manakara to Fianarantsoa at 6:45 am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. A single way ticket costs  25.000 Ar (around 10 US$ / 8,5 €) in a first class wagon. Travelling in second class is cheaper, but much less recommendable! Further 2.000 Ar are payable as reservation fee for advance bookings.
Ticket reservations for trips in the first class can be made by sending an e-mail to the railway company Fianarantsoa Cote Est (FCE Madagascar) seven days before departure: fce@blueline.mg. Bookings can also be made by phone (261-20-75-513-55) or even at the booking desk at Fianarantsoa train station. You have to reconfirm your ticket at least one day prior to departure. 

The passenger train to Tamatave is no longer at work, only a freight train with a little passengers' space and very overcrowded, which runs very irregularly. The same applies to the trains between Tana and Ambatondrazaka, and between Tana and Brickaville. The train from Tana to Antsirabe is out of order at the moment. Due to the coming privatisation, some lines might be working soon again, especially the line Tana - Tamatave.