Mauritius, a small island territory in the southwest of the Indian Ocean, has recently entered the era of sustainable transport and mobility. A light rail system, with 22 stations when the three sections were completed in 2023, now crosses the vast, hitherto heavily congested conurbation stretching from Plaines Wilhems to the capital Port Louis. Having become operational in 2019, in its first phase, it provides an alternative to motor vehicles on an island where the last passenger train line was closed in 1956. Has Mauritius become a model of sustainable mobility for other small island territories, both near and far? It seems highly unlikely, as the conditions for implementing and managing this form of transport are the subject of much debate. With its ambitious coverage, low fares and high construction costs, the TCSP would never have seen the light of day without India’s financial support. What are the terms and conditions of this partnership and what is at stake ?