The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), formerly Rhodesia Railways, is a Bulawayo headquartered state-owned enterprise that operates the country's national railway system.[2] It was established in 1893 and governed by an Act of Parliament.[2] It has a commercial-administrative center in Harare and a supply center in Gweru. The Zimbabwean railway system was largely constructed during the 20th century.
NRZ's history begins with the creation of the Bechuanaland Railway Company on May 24, 1893. It was renamed Rhodesia Railways Ltd (RR) on July 1, 1899.[3]
At the same time, on April 13, 1897, the Mashonaland Railway Company (MRC) was founded. On March 1, 1905 the small Ayrshire Gold Mine & Lomangundi Railway Company — which had been founded in 1900 — merged with MRC. A similar event would occur with the Beira & Mashonaland Railway (also founded in 1900), which merged on October 1, 1927 with the MRC. Finally, MRC itself would be absorbed by Rhodesia Railways Ltd on March 31, 1937.[3]
In 1938 the company owned 236 locomotives, 2 railcars, 360 coaches and 4364 goods wagons.[4]
Nationalization and founding of NRZ
On April 1, 1947 Rhodesia Railways Ltd (RR) becomes state-owned, retaining the name Rhodesia Railways.[3]
The route from Plumtree (Zimbabwe) to Mafikeng (South Africa), crossing Botswana (which was under concession to the RR), was sold to South African Railways in December 1959.[3]
Rhodesia Railways was a heavy user of the Garratt locomotive. In June 1976, 100 of its 109 steam locomotives were Garratts. For operational purposes, Rhodesia Railways was divided into two areas: those lines north-east of Gwelo (now Gweru) fell into the Eastern Area, with all other lines in the Southern Area.[6]
Opening of the railway to Umtali in 1899
On July 1, 1979, the RR became the Zimbabwe Rhodesian Railways, and the following year (May 1), it gained its current name, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).[3]
Rhodesia Railways steam locomotive allocation, 1 June 1975[5]
In 1983, the electrification of a 305km section between Harare and Dabuka began. The first electric convoy circulated on October 22, 1983, with the completion of works taking place two years later.[7]
In 1987, the NRZ renounced ownership of Botswana's interior lines (an act left over from the colonial period), giving rise to that country's state-owned railway, the Botswana Railways.[7]
In 1996, the government of Zimbabwe established a privatized concession to New Limpopo Projects Investments Ltd (NLPI) to build a new link between Bulawayo and Beitbridge, thus providing a more direct rail link with South Africa. NLPI founded Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway Ltd to operate the new link. The line opened on July 15, 1999.[7]
In 1997, the deregulation of the transport industry took place, removing the monopoly of the sector held by NRZ,[7] a fact that led the company to enter into deep decline and accumulate increasing losses.
Crisis
The NRZ has suffered from the general decline of the country's economy. Neglect of maintenance, lacking spare parts, and overdue replacement of equipment have led to a situation were only part of the network is in good condition and equipment problems have led to reduced service. Steam locomotives have been reintroduced since 2004 as coal is in relatively good supply, while diesel must be imported and electricity shortages are common. Further, the company is seriously indebted, making it impossible to solve this situation without external help.[8] Goods transport has declined, from 18million tonnes in 1998 to 2million tonnes in 2010.[9]
In 2019, it was reported that train drivers were resorting to using WhatsApp messages to communicate, due to the unreliability of signalling and control systems. At this time ZNR operated around 100 locomotives and a 'few hundred' carriages.[10]
A diesel hauled service, near Gweru. Note the electrical overhead catenary, no longer in use. Photo from 1990.
By 2009, the 313km electrified section between Harare and Gweru/Dabuka was inoperable due to years of maintenance neglect and theft of overhead line equipment. Diesel locomotives now operate on the route.[11]
Recent history and recapitalisation
Between 2001 and 2006 a commuter rail service operated in Harare and Bulawayo. Three lines were operated in Harare and two in Bulawayo. They were nicknamed 'Freedom Trains.[12]
Between May and July 2017, a bidding process for the recapitalization/privatization of the company was initiated. Six companies successfully submitted their proposals. The winner of the process was the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG), a consortium of Zimbabwean and South African companies. Subsequently, the bid was canceled due to irregularities.[clarification needed][13]
In November 2018 a commuter service was revived in Bulawayo with one line.[10]
In 2021, commuter rail service in Harare was started in cooperation with ZUPCO, the local bus company, operating three routes to Tynwald, Mufakose and Ruwa.[14] In November 2022, approximately a year after being introduced, they were suspended again due to a payment dispute with ZUPCO.[15]
In 2020, all passenger services were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of May 2023, passenger services have not been reintroduced. NRZ cites the age and state of repair of passenger carriages, as well as speed restrictions on some sections of track as the reason for the continued suspension, although are looking to reindroduce service at some point in the future.[14]
Operations
NRZ operates about 4,225km (2,600 miles) of railway lines, all of 3ft6in (1,067mm) providing freight services. The gauge is standard for all of southern Africa.
Steam train crossing Victoria Falls Bridge in 1992.
Steam
Steam locomotives are still used in Zimbabwe; they have proven so popular with tourists that there are plans to refurbish several more steam locomotives.[17] However, funding is constrained, and diesel-hauled freight transport is a higher priority.[18] Some steam train excursions operate as of 2023 in the vicinity of Victoria Falls.
Major accidents
On 27 August 2006 more than 60 people were killed in a head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train 30 kilometres (19mi) south of Victoria Falls.[19]
Link from Mutare to Port of Beira, Mozambique. The Harare-Mutare route was the busiest route. The sleeper class was $40, whilst the standard class is $30 and the economy class $25.[21] Link from Somabhula to Port of Maputo, Mozambique The charge was $60 for the sleper class, $50 for the standard class and $40 for the economy class.[21]
The privately owned Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR) provides a direct rail link to South Africa. This railway was opened in 1999 and will become part of the NRZ after 30 years.
Museum
Steam locomotives of different classes at the museum area (1990)
Gweru, originally known as Gwelo, is a city in central Zimbabwe. Near the geographical centre of the country. It is on the centre of Midlands Province. Originally an area known to the Ndebele as "The Steep Place" because of the Gweru River's high banks, in 1894 it became the site of a military outpost established by Leander Starr Jameson. In 1914 it attained municipal status, and in 1971 it became a city.
The government of Zimbabwe is the main provider of air, rail and road services; historically, there has been little participation of private investors in transport infrastructure.
Victoria Falls, popularly known as Vic Falls, is a resort town and city in the province of Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe. It lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi River at the western end of Victoria Falls themselves. According to the 2022 Population Census, the town had a population of 35,199.
Zambia Railways (ZR) is the national railway company of Zambia, one of the two major railway organisations in Zambia. The other system is the binational TAZARA Railway (TAZARA) that interconnects with the ZR at Kapiri Mposhi and provides a link to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam.
Beitbridge is a border town in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. The name also refers to the border post and bridge spanning the Limpopo River, which forms the political border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The border on the South African side of the river is also named Beitbridge.
The Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR) is a privately owned railway company that provides a rail link in Zimbabwe between Beitbridge at the South African border and Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo.
Botswana Railways (BR) is the national railway of Botswana.
Rail services in Botswana are provided by Botswana Railways in Botswana. Most routes in the country radiate from Gaborone. The railway network consists of 888 km, its gauge is 1,067 mm cape gauge.
The A4 is a highway, also known as the R1 Highway, which runs between Beitbridge and Harare. From Beitbridge it passes through Rutenga, Ngundu, Masvingo, Mvuma, Chivhu before reaching Harare.
Railway station in Beitbridge include:
Bulawayo Railway Museum is a railway museum located at Bulawayo railway station in Zimbabwe that houses several exhibitions on the history of the railway system in Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia. Its oldest exhibits date back to 1897, and include Cecil Rhodes' personal railway coach. The museum is owned by National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). Due to the severe shortage of rolling stock, some steam locomotives from the museum have, in the past, been refurbished and returned to service.
The South African Railways Class 34-200 of 1971 is a diesel-electric locomotive.
The South African Railways Class 34-600 of 1974 is a diesel-electric locomotive.
The South African Railways Class 34-800 of 1978 is a diesel-electric locomotive.
The South African Railways Class 35-000 of 1972 is a diesel-electric locomotive.
The South African Railways Class 35-400 of 1976 is a diesel-electric locomotive.
The South African Railways Class GMA 4-8-2+2-8-4 of 1954 is an articulated steam locomotive.
The Rhodesia Railways 15th class, was the second-largest class of Garratt locomotives, with 74 locomotives built. Only the Class GMA/GMAM of the South African Railways was more numerous at 120 locomotives.
The Rhodesia Railways 20th class, later Zambia Railways and National Railways of Zimbabwe 20th classes, were among the largest and most powerful steam locomotives in the southern hemisphere.
Beira-Bulawayo railway, also called Machipanda railway, Beira-Harare-Bulawayo railway and Beira railway, is a railway that connects the city of Beira, Mozambique, to the city of Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe. It is 850 km long, in a 1067 mm gauge.
Burrett, Robert; Murray, Gordon (2020). Iron Spine & Ribs: The Railways of south Central Africa. Durham, NC: Lulu Press. ISBN9781716477102.
Durrant, A E (1997). The Smoke that Thunders. Harare: African Pub. Group. ISBN1779011342.
Hamer, Edward D (1983). Steam locomotives of Rhodesia Railways: the story of steam 1892–1979. Malmö: Stenvalls. ISBN9172660775.
Hamer, Edward D (2001). Locomotives of Zimbabwe and Botswana. Malmö: Stenvalls. ISBN9172661526.
Robinson, Neil (2009). World Rail Atlas and Historical Summary. Volume 7: North, East and Central Africa. Barnsley, UK: World Rail Atlas Ltd. ISBN978-954-92184-3-5.
Shepherd, Gordon (2018). Old Zimbabwe's Railways and More. Catrine, Mauchline, Scotland: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN9781840338119.
Turk, Andrew (February 1976). "Garratts Galore". Railway World. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan: 76–78.
Winchester, Clarence, ed. (1936), "Progress in Rhodesia", Railway Wonders of the World, pp.867–874 illustrated account of the development of the railways of Rhodesia
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