After a five-year interruption, rail service between Kinshasa and Matadi, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) main seaport, is set to resume. Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba announced the relaunch during a ceremony attended by President Félix Tshisekedi.
A Solution to Ease Transport Congestion
The reactivation of this 350 km railway line is crucial for improving the connection between the capital, Kinshasa, and the port of Matadi. Currently, the transport of millions of tons of goods passing through Matadi each year relies almost entirely on a single road, National Road No. 1, which is congested. The train’s resumption is therefore intended to reduce pressure, lower costs, and secure freight transport for both domestic and international trade.
Investments and Future Projects
To restart operations, the National Transport Office (ONATRA) has upgraded its railway fleet. In 2023, the company received seven new railcars and plans to acquire additional equipment, including five locomotives and forty container wagons, financed through the Land Logistics Fee (RLT).
The government’s ambitions extend beyond this relaunch, with plans to expand the network. A study is underway to build a line connecting the future deep-water port of Banana to the Matadi-Kinshasa line. Additionally, urban transport projects are planned in Kinshasa, including a line to N’Djili Airport.
However, a $956 million public-private partnership with the Indian group Arise to modernize the Matadi-Kinshasa line is still pending and has yet to make concrete progress.
