Rail transport in Angola is provided by three main rail lines, operated by three different administrators who all report to the Ministry of Transport. The Angola National Institute of Railroad (INFCA) establishes the regulations and standards for railroad operations and holds enforcement authority.

The Angolan rail network stretches over approximately 2 700 kilometres and connect the Atlantic coast to the interior of the country. The three separate rail lines are known as the:

• Luanda Railways (located in the north);
• Benguela Railways (located in the central part of Angola); and
• Mocamedes Railways (located in the south).

The Luanda rail line runs 425 kilometre northeast from the port of Luanda to Malange, located in northern central Angola. The transportation of rail freight from the port of Luanda began in March 2013 with the hope that another transport alternative will entice companies to use railways as a means of transport, instead of trucks.

The Benguela rail line, also known as the “Lobito Corridor”, runs 1,344 kilometre from the Lobito port east to Luau on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border where a dry port and logistics centre are currently being planned. The Benguela rail renovation project, which was financed by the Chinese government, was completed in 2014.

Plans are underway to connect the Benguela line with railway networks in the DRC and Zambia to facilitate greater intra-African trade. It is expected that the Benguela rail line will become pivotal for the movement of cargo as a direct road link between Lobito and Luau does not exist. 59

The southern Moçâmedes railway line is 857 kilometre long and connects the port of Namibe to Memongue in the south, as well as the border of Namibia.

An ambitious plan has been developed to interconnect the Luanda, Benguela and Moçâmedes railways with railway lines in neighbouring countries to facilitate the seamless movement of rail traffic in the SADC. According to this proposal, the three separate railway companies will be merged into one company and rail transport management will be separated from rail infrastructure. The project will be financed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the form of a concession.

https://www.railjournal.com/financial/angola-to-launch-concession-for-benguela-railway/

https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/01/business-flourishes-as-angola-revitalises-historic-railroad