Mozambique Ports and Railways
Encyclopedia
Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (abbreviated CFM; in English Mozambique Ports and Railways) 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. In addition there is a 140 km line of gauge, the Gaza Railway
. The railway system developed over more than a century from three different ports at the Indian Ocean
that serve as terminals for separate lines to the hinterland. The railroads were major targets during the Mozambican Civil War
, were sabotaged by RENAMO, and are being rehabilitated. Management has been largely outsourced. At this time there is no directly interconnecting rail service between the three lines.
Each line has its own development corridor.
In August 2010, Mozambique and Botswana
signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 1100 km railway through Zimbabwe
, to carry coal from Serule
in Botswana to a deep-water port at Techobanine Point in Mozambique.
is the terminal of the Nacala Railway, the most recent addition to the railway system. It connects the Nacala Development Corridor and links to the Central East African Railway
(CEAR) of Malawi
. The railway system is operated by Corredor de Desenvolvimento do Norte. Vale recently bought a stake in the operator; a link is planned from Moatize (where Vale has coal mines) to Malawi, hence connecting to the existing line to Nacala.
is the terminal of the Beira railroad, the oldest railway system of Mozambique. Its Machipanda line goes to Harare
(formerly Salisbury) and was opened in 1899 as link to then Rhodesia
, now Zimbabwe
, and its transits. The Sena line of the Beira railroad connects to the coal fields of Moatize
with the potential to link to the railway of Malawi as well as to Zambia
. As the Beira Railroad Corporation (CCFB) the Beira railway is leased from CFM to the Indian RITES Ltd.
and IRCON International
consortium.
, formerly Lourenço Marques, and Matola
are the terminals of the Maputo line that links to northeastern part of South Africa
. As the Ressano Garcia Railway Company the Maputo line is managed by the NLBP (New Limpopo Bridge Project Investments) together with Spoornet
and CPM with the aim to rehabilitate and operate the line to the border of South Africa. In SA the link goes to Komatipoort
and further to Johannesburg
. The Maputo line has also links to Swazi Rail
and the National Railways of Zimbabwe
.
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...
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. In addition there is a 140 km line of gauge, the Gaza Railway
Gaza Railway
The Gaza Railway is a 750 mm narrow gauge railway operating in southern Mozambique from Villa de Joäo Belo to Chicomo. With branches, its total length was . The railway operated several small American steam locomotives, including a Baldwin 0-6-2 and an Alco 2-6-0....
. The railway system developed over more than a century from three different ports at 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...
that serve as terminals for separate lines to the hinterland. The railroads were major targets during the Mozambican Civil War
Mozambican Civil War
The Mozambican Civil War began in 1977, two years after the end of the war of independence. The ruling party, Front for Liberation of Mozambique , was violently opposed from 1977 by the Rhodesian- and South African-funded Mozambique Resistance Movement...
, were sabotaged by RENAMO, and are being rehabilitated. Management has been largely outsourced. At this time there is no directly interconnecting rail service between the three lines.
Each line has its own development corridor.
In August 2010, Mozambique and Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 1100 km railway through 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...
, to carry coal from Serule
Serule
Serule is a village in Central District of Botswana. Serule, with a latitude of -21.95 and a longitude of 27.3 , is a streets, highways, roads, or railroad...
in Botswana to a deep-water port at Techobanine Point in Mozambique.
Nacala railroad / CFM Norte
NacalaNacala
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...
is the terminal of the Nacala Railway, the most recent addition to the railway system. It connects the Nacala Development Corridor and links to the Central East African Railway
Central East African Railway
Central East African Railways is a consortium formed in 1999, led by the Railroad Development Corporation, which won the right to operate the Malawi Railways network. The company was sold in September 2008 to INSITEC, an investment group based in Mozambique....
(CEAR) of 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...
. The railway system is operated by Corredor de Desenvolvimento do Norte. Vale recently bought a stake in the operator; a link is planned from Moatize (where Vale has coal mines) to Malawi, hence connecting to the existing line to Nacala.
Beira railroad / CFM Centro
BeiraBeira, 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...
is the terminal of the Beira railroad, the oldest railway system of Mozambique. Its Machipanda line goes to Harare
Harare
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...
(formerly Salisbury) and was opened in 1899 as link to then Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
, now 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 its transits. The Sena line of the Beira railroad connects 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 the potential to link to the railway of Malawi as well as to 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....
. As the Beira Railroad Corporation (CCFB) the Beira railway is leased from CFM to the Indian RITES Ltd.
RITES Ltd.
RITES Limited is an engineering consultancy company, specializing in the field of transport infrastructure. Established in 1974 by the Government of India, the company's initial charter was to provide consultancy services in rail transport management to operators in India and abroad...
and IRCON International
IRCON International
Ircon International Limited is an engineering and construction company, specializing in transport infrastructure. The company was established in 1976, by the Government of India under the The Companies Act, 1956. Ircon was registered as the Indian Railway Construction Company Limited, a wholly...
consortium.
Maputo railroad / CFM Sul
MaputoMaputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, formerly Lourenço Marques, and Matola
Matola
Matola is a city in southern Mozambique, which lies 12 kilometers to the west of the country's capital, Maputo. Matola is the capital of Maputo Province and has had its own elected municipal government since 1998. It has a port and also the biggest industrial area in Mozambique...
are the terminals of the Maputo line that links to northeastern part of 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...
. As the Ressano Garcia Railway Company the Maputo line is managed by the NLBP (New Limpopo Bridge Project Investments) together with Spoornet
Spoornet
Transnet Freight Rail is a South African rail transport company, formerly known as Spoornet. It was part of 'South African Railways and Harbours', a state-controlled organisation that employed hundreds of thousands of people for decades from the first half of the 20th century and was widely...
and CPM with the aim to rehabilitate and operate the line to the border of South Africa. In SA the link goes to Komatipoort
Komatipoort
Komatipoort is a town situated at the confluence of the Crocodile and Komati Rivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The town is 8km from the Crocodile Bridge Gate into the Kruger Park, and just 5km from the Mozambique border and 65km from the Swazi border. It is a small, quiet town with some...
and further to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. The Maputo line has also links to Swazi Rail
Swazi Rail
Swazi Rail ', also Swaziland Rail, is the official railway corporation of Swaziland.- Overview :Like the neighboring countries, its 301 km rail system uses the narrow Cape gauge of . SR provides only service for transportation of goods, not passengers...
and the National Railways of Zimbabwe
National Railways of Zimbabwe
The 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...
.
Rail links to adjacent countries
- 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...
on Nacala line in operation; link to Sena Line, out of service - South AfricaRail transport in South AfricaRail transport in South Africa is the most important element of the country's transport infrastructure. All major cities are connected by rail, and South Africa's railway system is the most highly developed in Africa...
yes - same gauge - - Swaziland yes - same gauge -
- TanzaniaRail transport in TanzaniaRail transport in Tanzania is conducted by two companies:* Tanzania Railways Corporation* TAZARA- Railway links with adjacent countries : Burundi - no - proposed DR Congo - decades ago there was a train ferry between Kigoma and Kalemie, in 2007 there are no ferry links and the DR Congo line to...
no direct link - break of gauge - / - ZambiaRail transport in ZambiaRail transport in Zambia is primarily provided by two companies:* TAZARA Railway* Zambia Railways Limited-Railway links with adjacent countries: DR Congo - yes, Ndola to Sakania then Lubumbashi - , freight only. . The current operating status of Chililabombwe-DR Congo link not known...
no direct link - Zimbabwe yes - same gauge - , from 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...
and from MaputoMaputoMaputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
(Limpopo Line)
See also
- Filipe NhussiFilipe NhussiFilipe Jacinto Nhussi is an engineer and the current defence minister of Mozambique.- Biography :Born in Namau in Mueda District, Cabo Delgado Province, Nhussi studied mechanical engineering in Czechoslovakia and management at the University of Manchester in England.He received further training in...
, current defence ministerDefence ministerA defence minister is a person in a cabinet position in charge of a Ministry of Defence, which regulates the armed forces in some sovereign nations...
of Mozambique was executive director of CMF-Norte, the northern division of the company, in 1995 - 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...
- Transport in Mozambique
- 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...
Further reading
Ash, Paul (2010). The African phoenix. Trains Magazine, January 2010 http://www.rrdc.com/article_01_2010_african_phoenix_TRAINS.pdfExternal links
- CFM Home page
- UN Map
- A luta continua!. Railway Gazette InternationalRailway Gazette InternationalRailway Gazette International is a monthly business journal covering the railway, metro, light rail and tram industries worldwide. Available by annual subscription, the magazine is read in over 140 countries by transport professionals and decision makers, railway managers, engineers, consultants...
June 2004.