[2019-04-11] Angola studies construction of railroad branch lines to distribute industrial and agricultural production

Source: Macauhub

The Angolan government plans to build railway branch lines to link the country’s three rail lines to the country’s industrial and agricultural production zones, the transport minister said on Wednesday in Luanda.

Ricardo de Abreu, speaking at the opening of the 1st Technical Council for the railway sector, said the ministry is working to recover investments made in the reconstruction of the three existing lines (Luanda, Benguela and Moçâmedes), in order to contribute to economic growth.

The minister also said that the provincial and municipal light railway networks will be managed by provincial companies, which will provide urban rail transport.

“Maximising the use of stations in the provision of services, especially to rural populations, improving services for loading and unloading goods at railway stations in the interior are some of the sector’s other challenges,” he said.

De Abreu proposed the possibility of setting up a public or public-private entity, which will be responsible for the rail network, allowing a distinction between the network operator and the body responsible for maintaining and expanding railway infrastructure.

Angola has three railway lines – Luanda, 469 kilometres long (across Luanda, Kwanza Norte and Malanje provinces), Benguela, 1,344 kilometres long (Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico) and Moçâmedes, over 904 kilometres, linking the port of Namibe to the town of Menongue (Kwando Kubango).