The "Compagnie du Congo pour le Commerce et l'Industrie" (CCCI) was incorporated on 31 July 1887. On the same day its subsidiary the "Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Congo" (CCFC) was created. Work on the railway was directed by Albert Thys, who would give his name to one of the stations, Thysville (now Mbanza-Ngungu). The completion of the railway cost the lives of 1,932 people (1,800 Africans and 132 Europeans), additionally up to 60,000 labourers worked on the project at one time.