Gare de l'Est, Kinshasa

Gare de l'Est
Terminus
A memorial at the station remembering those who died during the construction of the railroad
General information
LocationBoulevard du 30 Juin, Gombe, Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Owned bySCTP
Line(s)Matadi-Kinshasa Railway
History
Opened1932
Previous namesLéopoldville Est

The Gare de l'Est, also known as Kinshasa Est or Kinshasa Central Station (French: Gare centrale de Kinshasa), is a central railway station situated in the Gombe commune of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Positioned along the Matadi–Kinshasa Railway line, it functions as a pivotal transshipment point connecting the railway and the river. Managed by the Société Commerciale des Transports et des Ports (SCTP), the station stands near Ngobila Beach at the Port of Kinshasa, fostering maritime links with Brazzaville, and is conveniently located close to SCTP buildings and the Ministry of Transport and Channels of Communication.[1][2][3][4]

The Matadi-Kinshasa Railway line traverses through the city, tracing the path of the Ndjili River and, further upstream, the Lukaya River.[5][6] This route circumvents the historic city from its eastern and southern flanks, ultimately reaching Kinshasa's central station.[1][7] A deserted former track extends beyond Ngaliema Bay. Additionally, a route leads southeast from the central station to the Ndjili International Airport.[7]

  1. ^ a b Clowes, William. "The Atlantic to Kinshasa: A journey on the River Congo". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  2. ^ "Rail transport in the Congo - Kinshasa Guide - Expat.com". www.expat.com. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  3. ^ "Digitalcongo.net | Kinshasa-Kasangulum : le train interurbain signe son retour !". www.digitalcongo.net. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  4. ^ "Les gares du monde – Kin-Est, ou ce qu'il reste de la gare centrale de Kinshasa..." RFI (in French). 2015-08-19. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  5. ^ admin (2022-01-08). "Things to do in Congo – Tourist Attractions in Democratic Republic of Congo". Silverback Gorilla Tours. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  6. ^ "Matadi-Kinshasa : en route vers la capitale – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  7. ^ a b Mambulu, Bisidi (2015). "Analyse et évaluation de l'épargne informelle chez les petits marchands de Kinshasa communément appelée "ko bwakisa carte". Cas de la commune de Lemba de 2009–2013". Memoire Online (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN). Retrieved 2023-08-12.