Rail transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The national system is mostly operated by the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo, SNCC.

The rail network in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced numerous accidents due to poor maintenance.

In April 2014, 48 people were killed and 160 injured when an SNCC train derailed near Katongola, Katanga Province.

The project finances: (a) renewing and upgrading 210 km of track and ballasting another 285 km; (b) 100 ore wagons, 9 shunting locomotives and 12 passenger coaches; (c) spare parts for locomotives and wagons; (d) telecommunications, workshops, data processing and service equipment; (e) extension of Ilebo port facilities; (f) social infrastructure; and (g) middle/senior technical and management staff training and consultant services.

These objectives were consistent with Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (GDRC's) transport sector reform goals which are to promote the consolidation of macroeconomic stability and economic growth through the rehabilitation of key transport infrastructure and improved governance; this, in turn, is expected to improve the provision of social services and reduce vulnerability of the poor.

According to a source close to the Agence Congolaise de Presse, eight locomotives are parked at the Port of Durban, awaiting departure formalities for DR Congo.

The chronogram drawn provides for the arrival of all the machines in June, their reception in July and operation next August, it should be remembered.

With funding from the DRC government, a batch of 20 new locomotives out of the 38 ordered in the Republic of China will be delivered to SNCC by the last quarter of the current year.

Adding to the eighteen from the World Bank, the SNCC will therefore have to acquire a total of thirty-eight locomotives at the end of 2015.

However, the World Bank, which contributes in particular to the rehabilitation of infrastructure, believes that these acquisitions will not completely solve the problems of this company.

June 2011: Two re-gauged CKD Praha Class 742 diesel locos gifted to SCTP by Belgium.

[37] December 2023: Seven cars of an ex-JR Hokkaido Kiha 183 trainset were delivered to the port of Matadi for use by Office National des Transports.