The railway system serves a very useful purpose in every growing economy in the transportation of bulky goods to the nearby markets as well as the ports for export at relatively cheaper cost.

Therefore, the breakdown of the Western railway network has had a great impact not only on the people especially farmers and the business entities in the Western Region, but also manufacturing and some mining companies in the region.

The railway system is indisputably the cheapest means of the transporting bulky goods and people compared to the road network. It also provides employment for the people.

The region has four branch lines, namely Kojokrom-Sekondi-Takoradi, Tarkwa- Prestea-Huni Valley through Ateiku to Accra and Dunkwa in the Central Region to Awaso.

Western Region is endowed with rich natural resources such as gold, manganese, bauxite, forest products and cash crops such as cocoa.

Besides, the Ghana Cement (GHACEM) has a factory in Takoradi producing cement, while the Takoradi Flour Mills produces flour for the country.

The railway network was used to cart the natural resources, particularly manganese, bauxite and cocoa at a relatively cheaper cost to the Takoradi Port for export.

The manufacturing companies also used the railway system for the distribution of their products to their key distributors in the county at a  reduced cost.

As a result of the breakdown of the Western Railway line, carting natural resources to the port and distribution of manufactured products have been greatly affected, since the firms have to depend solely on the road network, which is very expensive.

Transportation of the mineral and other products by road as a result of the collapse of the major rail lines has resulted in the roads deterioration.

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