The Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM) company has completed the first official railway journey from Vila Nova da Fronteira in Mozambique to Malawi.
The train carried material for the reconstruction of the Malawian railway line and was transported by the Chinese company CR20, which is responsible for the renovation project.
The Dona Ana (Beira) – Vila Nova da Fronteira (Tete) railway line had been inactive since September 1986 due to the country’s 16-year civil war.
However, the successful operation of this line now opens the door for commercial freight trains to circulate between the Port of Beira, Mozambique and Malawi.
In the future, passenger trains are also expected to operate on this route.
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The railway line is expected to provide a significant boost to transportation between Beira and Malawi, and it will also compete with the rail route linking Malawi to the northern Mozambican port of Nacala.
The line’s capacity has increased from 16.5 to 20.5 tonnes per axle, allowing for a potential transport capacity of 30 million tonnes per year. Furthermore, the speed of circulation has also increased from 30 to 60 kilometres per hour.
The construction of the 44 kilometres railway track in Mozambique reportedly cost $30 million.
The renovation project is slated to have a positive impact on the country’s transportation sector and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
In December 2022, the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) in Mozambique secured an order for 14 Kalmar T2i terminal tractors and three Kalmar forklift trucks.
MPDC, a joint venture between the Mozambican Railway Company and Portus Indico, was first awarded the concession to run Porto de Maputo in 2003.
