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Transport in Angola

Transport in Angola comprises:

Railways

total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: mainly 2,638 km of Cape gauge, 1067 mm or 3’ 6’’. There is also 123 km of 0.600-m gauge (2002)

There are three separate lines which do not link up. The major railway is the Benguela railway. A fourth system once linked Gunza and Gabala.

Railways in Angola suffered a lot of damage in the civil war, particularly the Benguela railway. A $4b project is proposed to restore the lines, and even to extend the system. It was reported in January 2008 that the repair of the Northern Line (a.k.a. Luanda Railway), started in October 2003 will be completed by August 2008. The work was carried out by the Chinese firm MEC-TEC.

A link to Namibia is partly under construction.

Railway links to adjacent countries

Republic of Congo - no - same 1067mm gauge
DR Congo - no - Lobito - Lubumbashi restoration link proposed.
Namibia - no - same gauge - links proposed and partially under construction in 2005.
Zambia - no

Maps

UNJLC Map

Towns served by rail

North line

(Also known as Luanda Railway) (originally 1000mm gauge converted to 1067mm in 1950s)

Luanda - port - capital
Caxito - branch terminus
Ndalatando
Golungo Alto - branch terminus
Zenza do Itombel - junction
Dondo - branch terminus
Malanje - terminus

Musseques
Viana

Middle line

(610mm gauge)

Gunza - port
Gabala - terminus at mine

Central line (Benguela Railway)

(Always 1067mm gauge)

Benguela - port
Lobito - port
Cubal
Ganda - junction
Huambo - workshops
Kuito
Camacupa
Cuemba
Chicala
Luena
Luau - border with Congo
Dilola, Congo

South Line

(originally 600mm gauge but was converted to 1067mm gauge in the 1950s. )

Namibe - port
Bibala
Lubango - (246km) - junction
Matala - intermediate station
Dongo - (500km) - junction
Cubango
Cuchi
Menongue - terminus (756km)

Lubango - junction
Chiange - branch terminus (150km) which may be extended to link with Namibia.

Dongo, Huila, Angola - junction
Cassinga - iron ore
Chamutete - branch terminus

Proposed

Timeline

2008

July 2008 - 1000km connection to Republic of Congo proposed

2007

26 October, 2007 - talks between Angola and Namibia regarding the link between Namibia and Chamutete.

Highways

total: 76,626 km
paved: 19,156 km
unpaved: 57,470 km (1997 est.)

Travel on highways outside of towns and cities in Angola (and in some cases within) is often not best advised for those without four-by-four vehicles. Whilst a reasonable roads infrastructure has existed within Angola, time and the war have taken their toll on the road surfaces, leaving many severely potholed, littered with broken asphalt. In many areas drivers have established alternate tracks to avoid the worst parts of the surface, although careful attention must be paid to the presence or absence of landmine warning markers by the side of the road.

The Angolan government has contracted the restoration of many of the country's roads, though. Many companies are coming into the country from China and surrounding nations to help improve road surfaces. The road between Lubango and Namibe, for example, was completed recently with funding from the European Union, and is comparable to many European main routes. Progress to complete the road infrastructure is likely to take some decades, but substantial efforts are already being made in the right directions.