Congo’s New Railway Projects Strengthen Links to Angola, Zambia, and the Atlantic
Congo’s New Railway Projects Strengthen Links to Angola, Zambia, and the Atlantic
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is advancing major railway upgrades aimed at improving regional trade and logistics.
In early September 2025, a joint EU–US delegation presented prefeasibility results for the DRC’s section of the Lobito Corridor—a 1,300-km transport route linking Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito with mining regions in the DRC and Zambia.
The DRC’s 427-km stretch, managed by the National Railway Society of Congo (SNCC), runs from Kolwezi to Dilolo on the Angolan border and is slated for full rehabilitation.
The first phase, covering the Dilolo–Kolwezi–Tenke line, is valued at US$410 million, with a 10-year maintenance cost of around US$180 million.
A second phase, extending the line to Zambia, could require US$1–1.5 billion. Funding discussions are underway with partners including the European Investment Bank and the World Bank.
Separately, President Félix Tshisekedi has relaunched the 350-km Kinshasa–Matadi railway, closed since 2020 and now fully rehabilitated.
The century-old line will help move over 4 million tonnes of cargo annually from the Port of Matadi, easing highway congestion and improving passenger transport between the capital and central regions.
Urban rail expansion is also planned, with new services linking Central Station to N’Djili International Airport and Kitambo Magasin.
In addition, a 150-km line connecting the proposed Port of Banana to the Matadi–Kinshasa corridor is under study, forming a Banana–Boma–Matadi–Kinshasa rail link that could transform the DRC into a regional logistics hub.
The Port of Banana, developed by DP World and Mota-Engil, will be the country’s first deep-sea container terminal, built in phases with an investment exceeding US$1 billion.Activate to view larger image,
