DRC, AFC Sign $877m Agreement For Kinshasa Urban Rail Project
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has signed a joint development agreement with the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for the first phase of the $877 million Kinshasa Urban Train (Metrokin) project, aimed at improving urban mobility and easing traffic congestion in the capital.
The agreement was signed in Dubai by the DRC’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Jean-Pierre Bemba, and AFC President and Chief Executive Officer, Samaila Zubairu.
The first phase of the project will involve the reconstruction of an existing 25-kilometre railway line connecting a proposed central station in Kinshasa to N’Djili International Airport. The line is expected to form the backbone of a planned 300-kilometre commuter rail network designed to address the city’s growing transportation challenges.
The railway project will include the conversion of the existing 1,067mm-gauge track to the standard 1,435mm gauge, the construction of eight stations, electrification, installation of modern signalling systems and the doubling of tracks along the airport branch line.
It will also involve the construction and rehabilitation of bridges along the route, as well as the development of a dedicated 25-megawatt thermal power plant to guarantee a reliable and continuous electricity supply for train operations.
Upon completion, the line is expected to transport approximately 452,000 passengers daily, with a maximum system capacity of 600,000 passengers. Train services are projected to operate at four-minute intervals, while the journey between the city centre and the airport is expected to take about 26 minutes.
The project is expected to begin in December, although the source report did not specify the year. The first phase was estimated to cost $250 million in 2023.
Kinshasa, which has a population of approximately 20 million people, faces significant traffic congestion, making the development of an efficient urban rail system a key component of efforts to improve public transportation and reduce travel times.
In a related development, the DRC and AFC signed a separate memorandum of understanding to support the proposed construction of a 150-kilometre heavy rail line linking Kinshasa to Banana, where a deep-water port is under construction along the country’s Atlantic coast.
Under the memorandum, AFC will finance and prepare a feasibility study for the proposed railway extension, which would pass through Boma and connect to the existing 365-kilometre Kinshasa–Matadi railway line.
The proposed connection is expected to strengthen rail links between the capital and the coastal port, potentially improving freight movement and supporting trade and economic activities.
The two agreements underscore the DRC’s efforts to expand its railway infrastructure through partnerships with development finance institutions, with the Metrokin commuter network expected to play a significant role in improving urban transportation and connectivity.
