Malawi Railways
Encyclopedia
Malawi Railways, the national rail network in the country of Malawi
, was run by a government corporation of that name until privatisation in 1999. With effect from 1 December 1999 the Central East African Railways consortium led by Railroad Development Corporation won the right to operate the Malawi Railways network. This was the first rail privatisation in Africa which did not involve a parastatal operator.
) gauge line extends from the Zambia
n border at Mchinji
in the west via Lilongwe
to Blantyre
and Makhanga in the south. At Nkaya Junction it links with the Nacala Corridor line going east via Nayuchi to Mozambique
's deepwater port at Nacala
on the Indian Ocean
. The link south from Makhanga to Mozambique's Beira
corridor has been closed since the Mozambique Civil War, with plans for reconstruction not yet realised.
An extension from Mchinji
to Chipata
in Zambia
opened in 2010, and there is a proposal to eventually link up from there with the TAZARA railway at Mpika
.
Freight traffic is predominantly exports through Nacala, including sugar, tobacco, pigeon peas and tea. Import traffic consists of fertiliser, fuel, containerised consumer goods and food products including vegetable oil and grain. A government subsidised passenger rail service operates thrice weekly in both directions from Blantyre
to Makhanga and to the border with Mozambique at Nayuchi.
The Rivirivi Bridge was damaged by Cyclone Delfina in January 2003 and reopened in 2005.
Nacala Port and Railway was concessioned to the same CEAR consortium in January 2005.
In July 2006, the Republic of China
(Taiwan
) sent 4 R20 series (EMD G12
) diesel electric locomotives R56, R57, R58 and R59 to Malawi Railways. 2 of them are used for shunt and 2 have never been used.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, was run by a government corporation of that name until privatisation in 1999. With effect from 1 December 1999 the Central East African Railways consortium led by Railroad Development Corporation won the right to operate the Malawi Railways network. This was the first rail privatisation in Africa which did not involve a parastatal operator.
Overview
The 797 km (CapeCape gauge
Cape gauge is a track gauge of between the inside of the rail heads and is classified as narrow gauge. It has installations of around .The gauge was first used by Norwegian engineer Carl Abraham Pihl and the first line was opened in 1862.- Nomenclature :...
) gauge line extends from the Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
n border at Mchinji
Mchinji
Mchinji is a town in the Mchinji District of the Central Region of Malawi. As of 2008 estimates, Mchinji has a population of 25,184. The area's economy is sustained by rain-fed agriculture, although the town is currently in the midst of a food crisis. Mchinji is also a major railroad junction,...
in the west via Lilongwe
Lilongwe
Lilongwe, estimated population 902,388 as of 2009, is the capital and largest city of Malawi. It lies in the country's central region, on the Lilongwe River, near the border of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, and on the main north-south highway of Malawi, the M1.-History:The city started life as a...
to Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
and Makhanga in the south. At Nkaya Junction it links with the Nacala Corridor line going east via Nayuchi to Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
's deepwater port at Nacala
Nacala
Nacala, also known as Cidade de Nacala or Nacala-Porto is on the northern coast of Mozambique is the deepest natural port on the east coast of Africa. It serves as the terminal for the Nacala Railway, a rail link to the landlocked Malawi...
on the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. The link south from Makhanga to Mozambique's Beira
Beira, Mozambique
Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
corridor has been closed since the Mozambique Civil War, with plans for reconstruction not yet realised.
An extension from Mchinji
Mchinji
Mchinji is a town in the Mchinji District of the Central Region of Malawi. As of 2008 estimates, Mchinji has a population of 25,184. The area's economy is sustained by rain-fed agriculture, although the town is currently in the midst of a food crisis. Mchinji is also a major railroad junction,...
to Chipata
Chipata
Chipata, population 98,416, is the capital of the Eastern Province of Zambia. The two languages spoken are Nyanja and English, though you might find some Indian languages, as there is a large number of Zambian Indians located in the town...
in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
opened in 2010, and there is a proposal to eventually link up from there with the TAZARA railway at Mpika
Mpika
Mpika is a town in the Northern Province of Zambia, lying at the junction of the Great North Road to Kasama and Mbala and the Tanzam Highway to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It also has a railway station on the TAZARA Railway about 5 km away. Mpika is situated between the Muchinga Escarpment to...
.
Freight traffic is predominantly exports through Nacala, including sugar, tobacco, pigeon peas and tea. Import traffic consists of fertiliser, fuel, containerised consumer goods and food products including vegetable oil and grain. A government subsidised passenger rail service operates thrice weekly in both directions from Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
to Makhanga and to the border with Mozambique at Nayuchi.
The Rivirivi Bridge was damaged by Cyclone Delfina in January 2003 and reopened in 2005.
Nacala Port and Railway was concessioned to the same CEAR consortium in January 2005.
In July 2006, the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
) sent 4 R20 series (EMD G12
EMD G12
The EMD G12 was a class of locomotive built by GM-EMD, and its Canadian affiliate General Motors Diesel. In addition, Australian licensee Clyde Engineering built ten locomotives for New Zealand in 1957, five for Hong Kong, 23 for Queensland, 14 for Western Australia and seven for BHP. Australian...
) diesel electric locomotives R56, R57, R58 and R59 to Malawi Railways. 2 of them are used for shunt and 2 have never been used.
See also
- Rail transport in MalawiRail transport in MalawiMalawi Railways is the national rail network in Malawi, run by a government corporation until privatisation in 1999. As of 1 December 1999 the Central East African Railways, a consortium led by Railroad Development Corporation, won the right to operate the network.The rail network totalled 797...
- Railway stations in MalawiRailway stations in Malawi- Maps :* * – does not show rail past Salima!* - List of towns served by rail :* Lanzu* Lirangwe* Moatize – proposed coal mine----* Makhanga – near Mozambique border.* Nayuchi – on Mozambique border on line to Nacala...
- Transport in Malawi