DR CONGO: Plans for the development of a 300 route-km urban rail network in the rapidly growing city of Kinshasa have been announced by Africa Finance Corp and Trans Connexion Congo.
AFC said Kinshasa’s rapid population growth in recent decades has far outpaced the development and maintenance of its transport infrastructure. Rehabilitating and expanding the rail network would contribute to bridging the significant gap between transport provision and demand, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while boosting economic productivity by cutting journey times and improving mobility.
Development of the Kinshasa Urban Train project, or MetroKin, would be undertaken in four phases.
| Phase | Section | Length km |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Kinshasa Centrale to N’djili airport |
25 |
|
2 |
The plain: expansion along the main arteries of Kinshasa |
75 |
|
3 |
The loop: a peripheral line around Kinshasa |
90 |
|
4 |
N’djili airport to Maluku |
80 |
Phase one
The first phase would be a 25 km route from Centrale station to N’djili International Airport. This would include the complete replacement of the existing 1 067 mm gauge track, which is life expired.
AFC told Railway Gazette International there is currently a passenger service running 45 km from Centrale station to Kasangulu, carrying 3 000 passengers/day with a fare of 1 500 Congolese francs. Phase one of the proposed urban train would share 7 km of this route.
AFC is to provide an initial US$3m to complete project development for phase one, with a view to financial close in Q4 2023. In addition to its role as a co-developer and investor, AFC is also mandated lead arranger. The cost is subject to further study, but is expected to be at least US$500m
Services could launch in Q3 2026 at the earliest.
All options for traction power are being considered, with the ‘overarching focus’ being on the long-term sustainability and economic viability of the project.
Transforming lives
The project was conceived by TCC, which has already undertaken studies. ‘TCC’s dream of modernising the rail transport in Kinshasa is in line with the vision of the Congolese President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi’, said Managing Director Erick Onepunga Yongo on February 16.
’Under the lead of AFC, the support of the central co-ordination office BCECO and the support of the Congolese government, the materialisation of this project becomes effective through the project company MetroKin.SA.’
AFC has previously acted as mandated lead arranger for the US$365m Henri Konan Bedie Bridge in Cote d’Ivoire and the US$160m Bakwena Toll Road in South Africa.
‘We are pleased to partner with TCC and the other project stakeholders Société Commerciale de Transport et des Ports and the city of Kinshasa on this critical project that aims to rapidly industrialise DRC’s capital city through its rail transportation system’, said Amadu Wadda, Senior Director, Project Development & Technical Solutions at AFC. ‘The project will support local job creation with 1 500 direct and indirect jobs at the construction and operational phases, transforming the lives of citizens and boosting DRC’s economic growth.’
