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An express freight train that will link Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia in less than ten days may commence operations in September 2015. The train will cover an approximate distance of 1,000 kilometres through this corridor,” the chairman of Mozambican state port and railway company, CFM, said in Beira earlier this month.
Victor Gomes told Mozambican newspaper, Notícias, that the launch of the connection was scheduled for week commencing 21 September 2015; however, he added that a new date was under consideration by representatives of the railway companies of the three countries who were scheduled to attend a technical meeting held in Beira, located in central Mozambique.
Gomes also said that the fundamental aim is to return the use of rail to transport cargo, such as fertilisers on trains leaving the port of Beira, and copper arriving from Zambia.
This initiative, Gomes said, was the result of a study conducted by the Southern Africa Rail Association (SARA) that highlighted the need to reactivate a total of 11 corridors. The report initially selected eight, with priority given to the Beira corridor.
Mozambique considered four lines including Goba, Ressano Garcia, Limpopo and Machipanda, which in the future, should connect with Zimbabwe, Zambia and possibly the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gomes noted that the Mozambican state company, National Railways of Zimbabwe and Zambia Railways Limited also discussed railway safety; handling and cargo transportation time; and rolling stock such as locomotives and freight cars at the technical meeting in Beira.
