Matadi–Kinshasa Railway

Matadi–Kinshasa Railway
Matadi train station, September 2015
Overview
Other name(s)Chemin de fer Matadi-Kinshasa (French)
Termini
History
Commenced1890
Completed1898
Technical
Line length366 km (227 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Route map

km
elev
in m
365
Kinshasa East
307
to Kinshasa West
N'dolo
Limete Amicongo
Limete
Limete UZAM
(Kingabwa)
to Ndjili Airport
Matete
Rifflart
Kilembo
338
Kimwenza
330
Block 329
321
Kasangulu
400
Vindevoghel
Bailleux
Wolter
277
Sona Bata
531
266
Madimba
532
Nguvu
247
Kisantu–Inkisi
520
Block 236
225
0
Marchal
580
16
Mbanza-Ngungu
(Thysville)
741
216
Kiasi-Pass
669
Kiasi
198
Dethieu
454
194
Kolo
439
187
Cattier
420
176
Moerbeke
400
Tumba
154
Lukala
390
143
Kimpese
333
Malanga
Kwilu
Block 110
Block 100
93
Songololo
320
Cipello
74
Lufu
315
Monolithe
Fornasari
38
Kenge
265
Tombagadio
Bousin
8
Mpozo
72
270 m
0
Matadi
28
Petrocongo
8
Ango-Ango
km
elev
in m

The Matadi–Kinshasa Railway (French: Chemin de fer Matadi-Kinshasa) is a railway line in Kongo Central province between Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the port of Matadi.

The Matadi–Kinshasa Railway was built between 1890 and 1898 in order to bypass the series of rapids and falls which hindered access from the South Atlantic Ocean to the Congo Basin. Its length is 366 km (227 mi) and it is run by Société commerciale des transports et des ports (SCTP) (until 2011, ONATRA). The line reopened in September 2015 after about a decade without regular service. As of April, 2016 there was one passenger trip per week along the line and more frequent service was planned. Services between Kasangulu to Kinshasa resumed in 2019.