Beira Railroad Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Beira Railroad Corporation (CCFB) is a railway company formed by a lease from the Mozambique Ports and Railways
(CFM) to the Indian Rites and Ircon International consortium to operate a railroad that originates from the port of Beira
, Mozambique
as terminal. The gauge Beira line is important as it provides a port access for landlocked
states such as Zimbabwe
, Malawi
, Zambia
, and the Katanga Province
.
, in 1899 and had been a link in the rail system of southern Africa.
Building of The Beira railway started in 1892, during the Portuguese rule of the territory of Mozambique. First, a two foot gauge narrow gauge railway was constructed from Beira
to the border city Mutare
(Umtali) in Zimbabwe
, in total 222 miles long and opened on 4 Februari 1898 .
In 1893 work started in Vryburg, Cape Province
, South Africa
, to construct a 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) railway to the north, later to be connected to the Beira Railway. In 1898 a 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) line from Salisbury to Mutare was opened, with subsequent conversion of the connecting two foot stretch to Beira in 1900.
In 1905 the railway was completed after opening of the Victoria Falls Bridge
at the border of Zambia
.
The two foot gauge locomotives were later acquired by the South African Railways to be designated to SAR Class NG6
line to Zimbabwe
, and the Sena
line to the coal fields of Moatize
with further connection to Malawi
.
fighting in the 1980s when RENAMO sabotaged the railroad.
Mozambique Ports and Railways
Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique is the parastatal authority that oversees the railway system of Mozambique and its connected ports. The rail system is composed of a total of 2,983 km rail of the gauge that is compatible with neighboring rail systems...
(CFM) to the Indian Rites and Ircon International consortium to operate a railroad that originates from the port of 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...
, 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...
as terminal. The gauge Beira line is important as it provides a port access for landlocked
Landlocked
A landlocked country is a country entirely enclosed by land, or whose only coastlines lie on closed seas. There are 48 landlocked countries in the world, including partially recognized states...
states such as Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, Malawi
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...
, 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....
, and the Katanga Province
Katanga Province
Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
.
History
Originally the Beira railroad already established a connection to Salisbury, now HarareHarare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, in 1899 and had been a link in the rail system of southern Africa.
Building of The Beira railway started in 1892, during the Portuguese rule of the territory of Mozambique. First, a two foot gauge narrow gauge railway was constructed from Beira
Beira
Beira can refer to:*Beira , the mother to all the gods and goddesses in the Celtic mythology of Scotland*Beira, Azores, a small village on São Jorge Island....
to the border city Mutare
Mutare
Mutare is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe, with a population of around 170,000. It is the capital of Manicaland province.-History:...
(Umtali) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, in total 222 miles long and opened on 4 Februari 1898 .
In 1893 work started in Vryburg, Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, to construct a 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) railway to the north, later to be connected to the Beira Railway. In 1898 a 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) line from Salisbury to Mutare was opened, with subsequent conversion of the connecting two foot stretch to Beira in 1900.
In 1905 the railway was completed after opening of the Victoria Falls Bridge
Victoria Falls Bridge
The Victoria Falls Bridge crosses the Zambezi River just below the Victoria Falls and is built over the Second Gorge of the falls. As the river is the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the bridge links the two countries and has border posts on the approaches to both ends, at the towns of Victoria...
at the border of 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....
.
The two foot gauge locomotives were later acquired by the South African Railways to be designated to SAR Class NG6
South African Class NG6 4-4-0
Between 1895 and 1898 Pauling and Company placed forty-two Falcon F2 and F4 tender steam locomotives with a 4-4-0 American wheel arrangement in service on the narrow gauge line that was being constructed for the Beira Railway in Mozambique...
Routes
The Beira railway has two major segments, the MachipandaMachipanda
- External links :*...
line to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, and the Sena
Vila de Sena
Vila de Sena or more commonly Sena is a town in Mozambique where there is an fundamental bridge over the Zambezi River. This bridge, the Dona Ana Bridge was originally a single track railway bridge, temporarily converted to road operation during the civil war.The town lies on the east bank of the...
line to the coal fields of Moatize
Moatize
Moatize is a town and district located in Tete Province in Mozambique. It is located near the town of Tete and near the Zambezi River.- Economy :...
with further connection to Malawi
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...
.
War damage
After independence of Mozambique in 1975, both segments suffered during the guerrillaGuerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
fighting in the 1980s when RENAMO sabotaged the railroad.
Reconstruction
Operational activity has been regained on the Machipanda line, and rehabilitation of the Sena line has been completed to Moatize, a town in Central Mozambique, and the first coal train from there to the port of Beira, operated by the Brazilian-based firm Vale, operated in August 2011.See also
- BeiraBeira, MozambiqueBeira 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...
- Congo Railway
- History of rail transport in MozambiqueHistory of rail transport in MozambiqueThe history of rail transport in Mozambique began in the latter years of the nineteenth century.- Beginnings :The Mozambique of the nineteenth century was a Portuguese colony. In the 1870s, there were initial plans to link the then Lourenço Marques - now Maputo - by railway line with the area...
- Malawi RailwaysMalawi RailwaysMalawi 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...
- National Railways of ZimbabweNational Railways of ZimbabweThe National Railways of Zimbabwe is the parastatal railway of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe railway system was largely constructed during the time of British colonial rule, and part of it represents a segment of the Cape-Cairo railway...
- Railway stations in MozambiqueRailway stations in Mozambique- Maps :* * * * * - Nacala system : * Nayuchi - Malawi - border town.* Malema - way station** Ribaue* Nampula - workshops* Metocheria* Gelo* Monapo - junction* Nacala - deep water port----* Monapo - junction...
- Transport in MozambiqueTransport in Mozambique- Railways :total:3,123 kmnarrow gauge:2,983 km of gauge;narrow gauge:140 km of gauge * The railways do not all interconnect.- Standards :* Coupler: CBC* Brakes: Air- Railway links to adjacent countries :...
- Zambia RailwaysZambia RailwaysZambia Railways is the national railway of Zambia, one of the two major railroad organizations in Zambia, which may also be referred to as Railway Systems of Zambia...