La Gazelle (Congo–Ocean Express)

Chemin de fer Congo-Océan (CFCO) — state-owned railway under the Republic of the Congo Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
Republic of the Congo
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The Journey

Navigate from Brazzaville Station to Pointe-Noire Station across a span of 502km. This is an overnight service.

Scenery Highlights
  • Mayombe Mountain Range climb — steepest 40 km/h grades on the CFCO network; dramatic forested escarpment traversed in darkness on westbound departure
  • Dense equatorial rainforest canopy — old-growth equatorial forest with towering okoumé, mahogany, and limba trees visible from carriage windows
  • Congo River approach — panoramic views of the Congo River and the iconic Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza mausoleum on the hill above Brazzaville on departure morning
  • Loudima River gorge crossing — steel truss bridge over the Loudima; a key engineering landmark of the original 1930s French construction
  • Niari Valley farmland — tobacco, cassava, and food-crop cultivation zones visible near Dolisie
  • Coastal savanna transition — the final ~50 km approaching Pointe-Noire shifts from forest to coastal savanna with glimpses of the Atlantic horizon
  • Atlantic sunset arrival — on the westbound, the final hour into Pointe-Noire runs close to the shoreline with direct sunset-over-ocean views
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    15 hours

  • Distance

    502 km

  • Est. Price

    Mid-range: 2nd class from ~10,465 XAF (~€16); 1st class couchette from ~20,000 XAF (~€30). Restaurant car meals ~2,000–5,000 XAF per sitting.

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None (restaurant car available on board)

Ensuite: No

Meals: None (restaurant car available on board)

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) diesel locomotives — 10 units acquired 2015; planned replacement with CRRC diesel locomotives during 2026–2030 rehabilitation. Locomotive weight approximately 120 tonnes per unit.

Locomotive Weight

~120 tonnes per EMD diesel locomotive unit

Track Gauge

1,067 mm (Cape gauge / 3 ft 6 in)

Braking Technology

Air brake system — standard freight/passenger air braking on all carriages and locomotives

Route Engineering Challenges

  • 502 km single-track Cape gauge through dense equatorial jungle with only 6–8 passing loops, limiting scheduling flexibility

  • Mayombe mountain range grades requiring restrictive 40 km/h speed limits (25 km/h on steepest sections) — these are the most challenging on the network

  • Tropical climate track degradation — heavy rainfall of 1,500–2,000 mm/year causes washouts, ballast erosion, and landslides on the Mayombe section during the November–March wet season

  • Very limited passing loops extending journey time and enforcing strict single-direction scheduling — no overtaking capability for passenger trains

  • Aging steel truss bridges at the Loudima River and smaller crossings — some original 1930s construction, now under load restriction

  • Vegetation overgrowth between weekly train passages on the jungle sections — right-of-way maintenance is challenging given limited maintenance budgets

  • Rehabilitation works 2026–2030 requiring phased line closures, speed restrictions, and single-track sections where only one train can operate at a time

Line length

502 km (Brazzaville Station to Pointe-Noire Station)

Opened

1934 (construction 1930–1934); passenger service relaunched as La Gazelle April 2023

Status

Operational — weekly passenger service (Monday + Friday) during 2026–2030 CRRC rehabilitation; reduced from two to one weekly departure per direction since March 2026

Rolling stock

Korean-built air-conditioned Hyundai Rotem coaches (2012, 10-car set); EMD diesel locomotives (10 units, 2015); planned CRRC locomotive replacement 2026–2030

Journey time

14–16 hours (one overnight); currently running approximately 15 hours due to speed restrictions during rehabilitation

Speed limit

40 km/h on jungle/valley sections; 25 km/h on Mayombe mountain grades; 60 km/h on the plateau section east of Dolisie

Operator

CFCO (Chemin de fer Congo-Océan) — state-owned railway under the Republic of the Congo Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, headquartered in Pointe-Noire

Rehabilitation partner

CRRC Corporation (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation) + China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC)

Rehabilitation budget

$595 million USD — announced February 27, 2026; 4-year programme through ~2030

Currency

XAF (CFA franc BEAC; pegged to EUR at 655.957:1; approx. 610 XAF per USD as of 2026)

Booking lead time

3–7 days minimum; same-day tickets almost never available on the weekly consist

Languages

French (official), Kituba (Kikongo trade language), Lingala (riverine commerce language) — onboard announcements typically in French only

Passing loops

6–8 passing loops on the 502 km route (at major intermediate stations: Loudima, Dolisie, Nkayi, Madingou); restricts scheduling to one train per direction per day at most

Highest point

~420 m above sea level on the Mayombe divide (between Madingou and Nkayi)

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    15 hours

  • Distance

    502 km

  • Est. Price

    Mid-range: 2nd class from ~10,465 XAF (~€16); 1st class couchette from ~20,000 XAF (~€30). Restaurant car meals ~2,000–5,000 XAF per sitting.

Official Booking Provider