Kinshasa Relaunches Urban Train After 15-Year Break to Ease Traffic

After a 15-year interruption, the National Transport Office (ONATRA) has relaunched Kinshasa's urban train service. The first train departed from Tshenke station in Masina commune at 8:05 AM on Wednesday, heading towards the Central Station in Gombe commune, offering a much-needed alternative to the city's persistent traffic jams.

The train made nearly ten stops, taking approximately one hour and twenty minutes to complete the journey from Masina to the city center. Passengers boarded and disembarked during brief two-to-three-minute pauses at each station. The train maintained an average speed of 20 to 25 km/h. Initial ridership was relatively low, with some onlookers present to witness the service's resumption.

“

The return of the urban train constitutes an alternative to the traffic jams that regularly paralyze Kinshasa.

Many passengers interviewed see the return of the urban train as a viable solution to the daily gridlock that paralyzes Kinshasa. The route between Tshangu and Gombe is particularly challenging during peak hours, with some commuters spending three to four hours in public transport on Boulevard Lumumba to reach the city center. For its first day, only one round trip was scheduled, with the train set to depart from Gare Centrale back to Tshangu at 4:30 PM.

ONATRA has deployed a ten-car train for the service, offering various classes. One-way fares range from 2,000 to 5,000 Congolese francs for a seated ticket between Tshangu and Gare Centrale. The relaunch of this urban rail service is presented by ONATRA as a response to the mobility challenges faced by the residents of the Congolese capital.

“

The relaunch of this urban rail service is thus presented as an additional response to the mobility difficulties faced daily by the inhabitants of the Congolese capital.