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KINSHASA: Kinshasa has brought its single urban rail link back into service after nearly 15 years out of operation to help beat gridlock in the Democratic Republic of Congo's congested capital.
President Felix Tshisekedi officially restarted the sky-blue train service at the end of June as part of the MetroKin project. Supported by the Africa Finance Corporation, the broader initiative aims to build a 300-kilometer rail network for the megacity of nearly 17 million inhabitants.
The train makes one daily round trip between the airport outskirts and the city center, carrying 4,000 to 5,000 passengers per run. The line manager noted that the 75-minute train ride avoids severe road traffic jams that make a car trip practically impossible.
Built following independence from Belgium in 1960, the railway was abandoned by the National Transport Office due to maintenance funding shortages.
While packed commuters welcome the speed compared to monster traffic jams, some complain of stifling heat and high basic ticket prices starting at 2,000 Congolese francs.
