Overview:

Lobito Railway Station - Benguela In Angola is a major railway station on the Benguela Railway system in Angola which is linked to the port of Lobito. It is the single most important station on the railway network able to handle heavier locomotives. Opened in 1908, it serves as the starting station for the Caminho de Ferro de Benguela which runs through the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Apart from passenger services, it is a hub of freight traffic which carries imported and exported goods to and from the port of Lobito. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Angola
Prominent Features:

1. Located on the Indian Ocean coast, the Lobito Railway Station in Benguela, Angola is the largest and busiest railway station in the country. 2. Originating in the 19th century, Lobito Railway Station is the main hub of the Caminho-de-Ferro de Benguela (CFB) railway, popularly known as Benguela Railway, connecting Angola with the Democratic Republic of Congo. 3. The station serves both passenger and freight trains on the CFB mainline, and links Lobito to Luanda, the capital city of Angola situated further southwest. 4. It also serves as a key transportation link between the nation’s capital and Lobito, allowing locals and tourists to travel between the two destinations much faster than by road. 5. The station is modern in design, featuring minimalistic yet elegant architecture that blends in with the landscape. 6. It houses a waiting area, ticket office, restaurant, food stalls, and a small museum dedicated to Angolan railway history. 7. The Lobito Railway Station is a popular tourist attraction in the Benguela area, offering breathtaking views of the coastline and plenty of photo opportunities. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Angola.

History:

The Lobito Railway Station is located in the city of Lobito, in Benguela Province, Angola. It is one of the largest and busiest railway stations in the country, serving the Benguela Railway, the country's only operational railway. The Lobito Railway Station began as a small station built in 1913 between the then-Portuguese fort of Lobito and the minework of Kiepe. Over the years, the station underwent several expansions, becoming the main railway station of the Benguela railway line. The Lobito station is a major regional hub of rail traffic and serves travelers from throughout Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The station was the launching point of the Benguela Railway project in 1958 and as such was the northern end of the line which, when fully operational, ran 2,471 km from Lobito to the copper mines in the Katanga Province of the DRC. This project was originally designed to boost Angola’s economy by connecting it to the trading opportunities of Central Africa. Unfortunately, civil unrest in the 1960’s led to the line’s closure. The Benguela line and Lobito station became operational again in 2002, but again fell victim to civil unrest in 2008. Currently, the line only runs between Lobito and the city of Huambo, stopping at 13 major city stops in Angola. Today, the Lobito Railway Station serves as a major stopping point for travelers and traders alike, connecting Angola and the DRC to the rest of the world. As such, the station serves as a reminder of the power of Africa’s transport infrastructure, despite the many challenges it has faced. Visit one of the famous monuments of Angola with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1.The Lobito Railway Station in Benguela, Angola was built in 1922 by the Benguela Railway Company. 2.The railway station is the oldest in Angola and was built with a combination of Portuguese and British styles. 3.The Lobito Railway Station is considered to be one of the largest and most important train stations in Africa. 4.It has been used as a hub for freight and passenger transport for over a century, and is the heart of railways in Angola. 5.The Lobito Railway Station was once the terminal point of the world’s longest stretch of straight railway track, stretching an incredible 200 km from the city of Luau to Lobito. 6.The Lobito Railway Station also acted as a port for the company’s large marine vessels, and it eventually evolved into a functioning port for other vessels carrying passengers and cargo throughout Angola. One of the historical monuments of Angola, it tells the story of a bygone era