Kinshasa Urban Train Resumes Service After 15-Year Hiatus

After nearly 15 years out of operation, Kinshasa's sole urban rail link has returned to service, offering a glimmer of hope for residents of the Democratic Republic of Congo's congested capital. The sky-blue train, adorned with national colors, now makes a daily round trip connecting the outskirts near the airport to the bustling city center, serving the megacity's nearly 17 million inhabitants.

At stations like Masina, located about 10 kilometers from the city center, passengers eagerly crowd the tracks, jostling for space in the packed carriages. Missing a stop, which lasts only moments, means passengers must jump onto the moving train. The one-way ticket prices range from 2,000 Congolese francs (about $0.87) to 5,000 francs for first class. Inside, the carriages are often stiflingly hot due to the lack of air conditioning.

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We're paying the same price, but here there's nowhere to sit.

Despite the basic conditions, the train provides a crucial escape from the hours-long commutes many face daily in Kinshasa's notorious traffic jams. "I haven't taken a car in four years; I do all my trips back and forth by motorbike," said Britey Mafuka, a trader who previously spent around $380 a month on transport. "When they brought the train back, I dropped the whole idea [of looking for a house near the city]," he added.

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I haven't taken a car in four years; I do all my trips back and forth by motorbike.

Mass transit systems are considered essential for the future of African megacities, which are experiencing rapid population growth and often chaotic urbanization. While other major African cities like Lagos and Dakar have recently inaugurated or expanded their urban rail and bus networks, Kinshasa's infrastructure had largely remained in the planning stages. The railway network, originally built after independence from Belgium in 1960, had been gradually abandoned due to a lack of maintenance funds.

President Felix Tshisekedi officially restarted the Kinshasa urban train service at the end of June as part of the MetroKin project, a 300-kilometer rail network initiative supported by the Africa Finance Corporation. The revival of this service is a significant step towards addressing the city's persistent transportation challenges.

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I was starting to look for a house near the city, but when they brought the train back, I dropped the whole idea.