Rail transport in Zambia

Zambia's railway network
Legend
Chillabombwe Mufulira Chingola Kitwe to DR Congo Ndola Kapiri Mposhi Kapiri North Junction Luanshimba Kabwe Lunsemfwa Lusaka Ngambwa Kafue Mkushi Mazabuka Nkolonga Monze Mkushi River Choma Ndabala Kalomo Chisangwa Mulobezi Livingstone to Zimbabwe Serenje Proposed line to Chipata Kawaluma Chipata Chakalamo to Malawi Kanona Luslwasi Lukulu Finkuli Mununga Salamo Kalonje Kapoko Chilonga Mpika Sabwa Kabuka Kasongo Mpepo Chambeshi Ishitu Nkolemfumu Kasama Kungu Proposed line to Port Mpulungu Nseluka Malenge Chimba Kayaya Makasa Kalulu Luchewe Chozi Luchinde Kawila Msanza Mwenzo Nakonde to Tanzania

Rail transport in Zambia is primarily provided by two systems:

• TAZARA Railway
• Zambia Railways Limited (sub-systems: Cape to Cairo Railway and Sena railway)

Zambia Railways operates a number of rail lines, including the Mulobezi Railway; as of early 2012, it was still in operation, but in poor repair. ^[1]

Railway links with adjacent countries

• Democratic Republic of the Congo - Ndola to Sakania then Lubumbashi - 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in), freight only. (For extensions and reconstruction beyond Lubumbashi see the DR Congo article). The current operating status of Chililabombwe-DR Congo link not known.
• Tanzania - from Kapiri Mposhi, border crossing at Nakonde, Zambia, to Dar es Salaam, TAZARA railway, passenger and freight - 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
• Malawi - Chipata-Mchinji 2010 opening ^[2]
• Mozambique - no direct link, but indirectly to Nacala, Beira (via Malawi) and Maputo (via Zimbabwe, no continuous passenger services).
• Zimbabwe - from Livingstone via the Victoria Falls Bridge to Bulawayo, freight only.
• Botswana - no direct link, indirectly via Zimbabwe (no continuous passenger services). A direct link is under construction and expected to be open in 2019. ^[3]
• Namibia - no direct link.
• Angola - no direct link - but indirectly via DR Congo to Benguela on the Lobito Corridor - same gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in). In October 2023, Zambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Angola, DR Congo, the United States and the European Union for the construction of a new railway line connecting northwestern Zambia to the Benguela Railway in Angola. The project, named Zambia-Lobito railway, is supported by the African Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation. ^[4]

See also

• Trains portal
• Zambia portal

• East African Railway Master Plan
• Economy of Zambia
• Railway
• Lobito–Dar es Salaam Railway

References

Notes

1. Brian Hatyoka (2012-04-06), Zambia: Mulobezi Train - Sign of a Failed Concession Deal
2. "Railway Gazette: News in Brief". Archived from the original on 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
3. Moyo, Thandiwe (3 December 2017). "Zambia: Govt Committed to Completion of Kazungula Bridge Project". The Times of Zambia. Ndola. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018– via AllAfrica.com.
4. "Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of the Lobito Corridor and the Zambia-Lobito Rail Line". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2023-10-27.

Further reading

• Robinson, Neil (2009). World Rail Atlas and Historical Summary. Volume 7: North, East and Central Africa. Barnsley, UK: World Rail Atlas Ltd. ISBN   978-954-92184-3-5.

External links

Media related to Rail transport in Zambia at Wikimedia Commons