The 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) narrow gauge railway traveled the 29 kilometers (18 mi) between the two cities in one hour and fifteen minutes.

The idea of a railway connecting Nouméa to Canala on the North coast of the island 166 km (103 mi) Northwest of Noumea was first approved by governor Pallu de la Barrière in 1884.

[1] The following governor Paul Feillet was able to elect a Conseil General who borrowed the sum necessary for the execution of a program of works including the construction of a railway.

The deep cut to bring the line across a hill and the Tonghoué Tunnel, generated work for four years and created some permanent jobs.

In 1908, the Société des Charbonnages de Nouvelle-Calédonie, which exploited the deposits of Nondoué, proposed to build at its own expense a Dumbéa-Païta section.

The Nouméa-Païta railway closed on 1 January 1940 owing to low ridership, the deficit of the company and rolling stock and tracks in poor condition.