The French used rails and ties taken from Germany as World War I reparations to build the line.

[citation needed] In 2000, back-to-back cyclones caused 280 landslides and four major washouts cut service for months until a rehabilitation project was launched with help from USAID, Swiss Railways and others.

A study conducted by the Project d'Appui à la Gestion de l'Environnement (PAGE) in 2000 concluded that keeping the train operational helps prevent deforestation to the tune of 97,400 hectares over 20 years.

[citation needed] Interviews conducted with villagers during the temporary closure found that they would have no choice but to cut down their tree-based crops that they shipped to market on the railway and plant rice or cassava instead.

[citation needed] In 2020 the FCE received three Spanish second hand locomotives[4] Serie 1500 de Renfe built in 1964.