Rail transport in Angola
Rail transport in Angola is aligned with the ports of Angola. It is carried out on three networks, which are not connected. Another, unconnected with the three networks route has now been set. It will take place both freight and passenger traffic. The entire route length is 2764 km, of which 2641 km in the usual in Southern Africa Cape gauge and 123 km in 600 -millimeter track ( as of 2010). The sole owner is the state-owned company Caminhos de Ferro de Angola (CFA).
Topography
Angola is on the Atlantic Ocean. On the coast, the land is flat, to the east it rises fairly evenly at about 2000 meters above sea level. Numerous rivers cross the country. The largest cities are port cities, of which the three main routes run eastwards. Angola's neighboring countries are the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Namibia. Only in the DR Congo performs a cross-border route; However, it is not operating. The Angolan exclave of Cabinda, which borders the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is no rail connection. The capital Luanda is the most important seaport of Angola.
History
Angola was a Portuguese colony in the 19th century. Plans for the development of land with railway lines were from 1887., The " Luandabahn " Luanda - Viana - Lucala was built and opened in 1899 by a private railway company. By 1909 it was extended as a state railway east to Malanje. Later, a branch line of Zenza do Hombe was built by Dondo.
The second major route was built as a state railway in the 600 mm gauge. The " Mocamedes -Bahn " (later: " Namibebahn ") was the connection of the port city Mocamedes (since 1985: Namibe ) in the south of the country with the city Menongue inland. 1910, a part of the route was opened. Other sections led later to Dongo and Cassinga before the entire route was opened.
The Benguela railway was completed in 1912 by the two port cities of Lobito and Benguela, Huambo to. This included a roughly two -mile gear section with gradients of up to six percent. It was extended to 1929 by Dilolo in the DRC in order to transport the copper deposits in the local Katanga province to the Atlantic ports can. Together with other rail lines, there was almost a coherent route to Dar es Salaam in what was then Tanganyika. Only two ship passages had to be overcome on the 4000 km long route. Later, you could reach the Mozambican port Beira by rail. The Benguela railway proved to be important railway Angola.
A fourth rail line to connect a port was also built in 600 -mm gauge line Porto Amboim - Gabela. Porto Amboim between Luanda and Lobito. The track has been managed by the Luanda Railway. Furthermore, some branch lines were built, about a 600 - mm track gauge of Lubango on the railway line Namibe Menongue after Chiange so Lubango was one of the few railway junction of Angola. In the 1950s, the Mocamedes Railway was umgespurt of 600 mm gauge on Cape gauge.
On November 11, 1975 Angola became independent. At that time already, the civil war in Angola had begun, which lasted until 2002 and the railway largely brought to a standstill. Thus, the Benguela railway was no longer functional in 1975. Several routes, such as the route Porto Amboim - Gabela were permanently shut down. 2005 passenger traffic was resumed on the section Lobito Cubal and freight Lobito - Huambo, 2007, the transport to Huambo.
Presence
The only operator is the CFA, which performs both freight and passenger traffic. It will be used exclusively diesel locomotives. The operation is divided into three areas
- Caminhos de Ferro de Luanda ( Luandabahn )
- Caminhos de Ferro de Benguela ( Benguela )
- Caminhos de Ferro de Namibe ( Namibebahn )
Divided. Furthermore, sections of routes after decades of destruction to be repaired.
Freight traffic
In the existing lines will be held freight, primarily to and from the ports on the Atlantic. The Benguela railway as the main route of the land shall be the end of 2012 after mine removal and rebuilding again completely passable.
Passenger
Passenger takes place sparse. Take the Luandabahn between Luanda and Viana several times daily commuter trains. A pair of trains Luanda Dondo wrong 2007/ 08 twice a week. Since the re- opening of the line to Malanje goods trains and several passenger trains per week between Viana and Malanje.
Between Lobito and Benguela six pairs of trains run daily. A pair of trains runs weekly from Lobito to Cubal. It uses the northeastern bypass Benguelas. Depending on a pair of trains running between Caála and Huambo and Huambo and Katchiungo. The entire route from the coast to Huambo was reopened on August 30, 2011.
On the Namibebahn operate twice weekly trains from Namibe to Lubango, and six times a week from Lubango to Matala. A pair of trains is attached via Matala out to Tchamutete near Cassinga.
Planning
The existing railway line since 2006 Tsumeb in Namibia Oshikango to be extended northward over the Angolan border and the city of Ondjiva to Lubango at the Namibebahn.