2.4 Mozambique Railway Assessment
Railways Overview
The Mozambique Ports and Railways Administration (CFM) was created in 1931. The railway system was developed in order to be connected with the three main ports of Maputo, Beira and Nacala, mainly to provide a fast, safe and efficient transit transportation service for mineral and agriculture exports from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Malawi, and for some national traffic from landlocked provinces. The main railway network is about 2,500 km long, distributed in three systems in the South, Central and North, each with 1,067 mm (3’6”) gauge (cape gauge) that is compatible with neighbouring railways networks.
The railway system was designed mainly for goods transportation, i.e. there are little passenger rail services in the country. On the other hand, there is no direct rail connection between the three systems inside Mozambique territory; connections are however available via neighbouring countries.
The railways were severely targeted by acts of war after the independence of Mozambique in 1975, first by Rhodesian forces prior to Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, and then during the civil war in Mozambique which lasted until the nineties. These acts of war inflicted major damages on railway lines and bridges, and on locomotives and wagons that consequently disrupted traffic. Recent extensive infrastructure rehabilitation and locomotive and rolling stock renewal programmes undertaken across all three networks, combined with some strategic management concessions, have brought railways back to adequate operational conditions and to be reliable transportation services.
Plans exist to augment the capacity of the current railway system and to build new lines to serve the growing mineral market, which mainly consists of coal from the Tete province.
Safety of cargo in transit has been a main concern of the railway operators, which has led to additional investments in safety locks and guards, as well as generally improved standards which allow for an increased speed of trains.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List
Travel Time Matrix
This is not relevant because passenger traffic is concentrated mainly in suburban areas with very little long-distance journeys. However, the following connections are worth mentioning:
- Nacala – Nampula: 8 hours
- Nampula – Cuamba: 15 hours
- Nampula – Lichinga: 20 hours
- Beira – Chimoio: 7 hours
Railway Companies and Consortia
CFM-South
The CFM-South network has the following main lines, all managed by CFM:
- The Goba Line to the Swaziland border (71 km). Transit time from Maputo-Goba – 3 hours.
- The Limpopo Line to the Zimbabwe border (522 km). Transit time from Maputo-Chicualacuala – 13 hours.
- The Ressano Garcia Line to the South Africa border (88 Km). Transit time from Maputo-R.Garcia – 4 hours.
There is a partial concession for iron ore traffic with Transnet on the Ressano Garcia line, and another for passenger traffic with Fleet Rail on the Goba and Ressano Garcia lines.
CFM Centre
The CFM-Centre network has the following main lines:
- The Machipanda Line to the Zimbabwe border (318 km), operated by CFM. Transit time from Beira-Machipanda – 11 hours.
- The Sena Line (from Dondo) to the Malawi border (Nsanje) and Moatize in the Tete province (335 km), operated by CFM, Jindal and ICVL.
ICVL and Jindal have a partial concession for the transportation of coal from Moatize. Their combined capacity is 180,000 tons/month.
CFM North
The CFM-North network has a main line from Nacala to the Malawi border (Entre-Lagos) via Cuamba (610 km), and a branch from Cuamba to Lichinga (262 km). The railways are managed by the “Corredor do Norte” (CDN) through a long-term concession that incorporates the railway system in Malawi (CEAR), as well as the link to Moatize, the Tete province, and to Chipata, Zambia.
For more information on railway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.10 Railway Companies Contact List
Capacity Table CFM-South (cargo only)
Rail Operator Capacity |
||
---|---|---|
CFM |
Transnet |
|
Lines Operates On |
Ressano Garcia line (88 km) Limpopo Line (522 km) Goba Line (71 km) |
Ressano Garcia line (88 km) |
Max Train Length and / or Pulling Capacity |
Max train length – 800 metres Pulling capacity – 50 to 75 wagons |
Max train length – 800 metres Pulling capacity – 50 to 75 wagons |
Locomotives |
Diesel locomotives of 2,200 - 3,000 HP |
Diesel locomotives of 3,000 HP |
Covered Freight Wagons Size (m) |
14 |
14 |
Flatbed Freight Wagons Size (m) |
14 |
14 |
High-sided Freight Wagons Size (m) |
14 |
9 to 14 |
Drop-side Freight Wagons Size (m) |
14 |
14 |
Capacity Table CFM-Centre (cargo only)
CFM, ICVL and Jindal |
CFM |
|
---|---|---|
Lines Operates On |
Sena line (335 km) |
Machipanda line (318 km) |
Max Train Length and / or Pulling Capacity |
1,500 metres |
450 metres |
Locomotives |
Diesel |
Diesel |
Covered Freight Wagons Size (m) |
n/a |
|
Flatbed Freight Wagons Size (m) |
n/a |
13 |
High-sided Freight Wagons Size (m) |
13 |
13 |
Drop-side Freight Wagons Size (m) |
n/a |
13 |
Capacity Table CFM-North (cargo only)
Rail Operator Capacity |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
CDN | CDN | |||
Lines Operates On |
Nacala – Entre Lagos (601 km) |
Cuamba – Lichinga (262 km) |
||
Max Train Length and / or Pulling Capacity |
40 wagons |
25 wagons |
||
Locomotives |
Diesel |
Diesel |
||
Covered Freight Wagons Size (m) |
10 to 13 |
10 to 13 |
||
Flatbed Freight Wagons Size (m) |
13 and 14 |
13 and 14 |
||
High-sided Freight Wagons Size (m) |
n/a |
n/a |
||
Drop-side Freight Wagons Size (m) |
n/a |
n/a |
Key Route Information
CFM-South
Standard Route Information |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Ressano Garcia Line From Maputo – To Komatipoort |
Limpopo Line From Maputo – To Chicualacuala |
Goba Line From Maputo – To Goba |
||
Track Gauge |
1,067 mm or 3’ 6” (cape gauge) |
1,067 mm or 3’ 6” (cape gauge) |
1,067 mm or 3’ 6” (cape gauge) |
|
Ruling Gradient |
Maximum: 0.019 % for each 200 metres Minimum: 0.0042% for each 300 metres |
Maximum: 1.54% for each 300 metres Minimum: 0.02% for each 400 metres |
Maximum: 2.8% for each 433 metres Minimum: 0.5 % for each 1.73 metres |
|
Total Track Distance |
0-20 km - double line 20-88 km - single line |
0-5.1 km - double line 5.1-522 km - single line |
0-10 km - double line 10-71 km - single line |
|
Type of Rail |
54 kg, welded |
40 kg and 45 kg, welded |
40 kg and 45 kg, welded |
|
Type of Sleeper and Fastenings |
Concrete sleepers (monoblock), |
Concrete sleepers (monoblock), |
Concrete sleepers (monoblock), |
|
Total Track Travel Time |
4 hours |
18 hours |
3.5 hours |
|
Maintenance |
Marginal |
Bad |
Marginal |
|
Companies / Consortiums Operating on Line |
CFM Transnet (iron ore) Fleet Rail (passengers) |
CFM |
CFM Fleet Rail (passengers) |
|
Traffic Frequency |
Daily |
Daily |
Daily |
|
Security |
Good |
Good |
Good |
|
Main Stations |
|
|
|
CFM-Centre
Sena Line From Dondo to Malawi border (Nsanje) and Moatize |
Machipanda Line From Beira to Machipanda |
|
---|---|---|
Track Gauge |
1,067 mm or 3’ 6” (cape gauge) |
1,067 mm or 3’ 6” (cape gauge) |
Ruling Gradient |
29.16 % |
|
Total Track Distance |
547 km – single line |
318 km – single line |
Type of Rail |
54 kg/m |
|
Type of Sleeper and Fastenings |
Concrete sleepers (monoblock). Pandrol clip. |
Mix of concrete (monoblock), Pandrol clip, spikes, coach-screws. |
Total Track Travel Time |
||
Maintenance |
Good |
Good |
Companies / Consortiums Operating on Line |
CFM, ICVL and Jindal |
CFM |
Traffic Frequency |
Daily |
Daily |
Security |
Good |
Good |
Main Stations |
|
|
CFM-North
Route A Nacala – Entre Lagos |
Route B Cuamba – Lichinga |
|
---|---|---|
Track Gauge |
1,067 mm or 3’ 6” (cape gauge) |
1,067 mm or 3’ 6” (cape gauge) |
Ruling Gradient |
||
Total Track Distance |
610 km – single line |
262 km – single line |
Type of Rail |
57 kg/m welded, |
40 kg/m, not welded |
Type of Sleeper and Fastenings |
Concrete sleepers (monoblock and bi-block). Elastic fastening. |
Concrete sleepers (bi-block). Elastic fastening. |
Total Track Travel Time |
||
Maintenance |
Good |
Good |
Companies / Consortiums Operating on Line |
CDN |
CDN |
Traffic Frequency |
42 monthly |
Occasional |
Security |
Good |
Good |
Main Stations |
|
|
Key Stations
CFM-South
Key Station Information |
|
---|---|
Gare de Mercadorias |
|
Location |
Mahotas Road-Rail Terminal in Maputo |
Contact Information |
Avenue Das Forças Populares, Rua da Gare, Nº 312 Maputo-Mozambique T. : +258 21 460 780 Email: stm.mahotas@stm.co.mz |
Connections with Other Transport Means |
Road |
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
110,000 m2 |
Handling Equipment |
|
Handling Capacity |
|
Other Comments |
Private Railway Section – 1,500 m Area served by the Railway – 60,000 m2 |
CFM Centre
Key Station Information |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Beira Station |
Moatize Station |
Machipanda Station |
|
Location |
Beira |
Moatize |
Machipanda |
Contact Information |
|||
Connections with Other Transport Means |
|
||
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
|||
Handling Equipment |
|||
Handling Capacity |
|
|
|
Other Comments |
CFM North
Key Station Information |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Nacala |
Nampula |
Entre Lagos |
|
Location |
Nacala |
Nampula |
Entre Lagos |
Contact Information |
+258 213448446 |
+258 21344843 |
+258 847869802 |
Connections with Other Transport Means |
|
||
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
|||
Handling Equipment |
|||
Handling Capacity |
|
|
|
Other Comments |
Tariffs