Determinants of rail freight transportation impact on port competition in West Africa

The reform of rail freight transport is currently underway in several African countries due to its critical role in port operations, which is driven by economic and geographical factors. Consequently, rail transportation has emerged as a pivotal factor influencing port competition, connecting seaports with inland ports and landlocked countries. Although extensive research studies exist on the global impact of rail freight on ports, Africa remains underrepresented in this body of literature. Therefore, this study seeks to evaluate the factors of rail freight transport that influence port competition in West Africa. It employs the novel fuzzy consensus building (FCB) method and the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP). The FCB method is used to address and validate the importance of rail freight determinants, while FAHP is utilized to assign weights to prioritize the determinants. As a result, 14 determinants were selected and categorized into Operational Efficiency, Market Dynamics, Infrastructure Systems, and Economic Factors. Infrastructure systems emerge as the most significant category, with rail networks being the highest specific determinant. Interestingly, cargo type is found to be the least specific determinant. The findings are compared with those derived from the traditional Best-Worst Method, validated by expert inputs, and discussed for their insights and practical implications. Its findings are relevant for policymakers and practitioners in the railway, maritime industry, and African Continental Free Trade Agreement to facilitate smoother trade flows.