2.4 Mozambique Railway Assessment Railways Overview
Page 1 Page 2 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.
Page 3 Page 4 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.
Page 5 Page 6
CFM North
Page 7 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) Ressano Garcia line (88 km)
Limpopo Line (522 km)
Goba Line (71 km)
Max Train Length and / or Pulling Capacity Max train length – 800 metres Max train length – 800 metres
Pulling capacity – 50 to 75 wagons 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
Page 8 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 Limpopo Line Goba Line
From Maputo – To Komatipoort From Maputo – To Chicualacuala 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 Maximum: 1.54% for each 300 metres Maximum: 2.8% for each 433 metres metres Minimum: 0.02% for each 400 metres Minimum: 0.5 % for each 1.73 metres Minimum: 0.0042% for each 300 metres
Total Track Distance 0-20 km - double line 0-5.1 km - double line 0-10 km - double line 20-88 km - single line 5.1-522 km - single line 10-71 km - single line
Type of Rail 54 kg, welded 40 kg and 45 kg, welded 40 kg and 45 kg, welded
Page 9 Type of Sleeper and Fastenings Concrete sleepers (monoblock), Concrete sleepers (monoblock), Concrete sleepers (monoblock), and wooden sleepers for bridges and and wooden sleepers for bridges and and wooden sleepers for bridges and turnouts. turnouts. turnouts. Elastic and rigid fastening. Elastic and rigid fastening. Elastic and rigid fastening.
Total Track Travel Time 4 hours 18 hours 3.5 hours
Maintenance Marginal Bad Marginal
Companies / Consortiums Operating CFM CFM CFM on Line Transnet (iron ore) Fleet Rail (passengers)
Fleet Rail (passengers)
Traffic Frequency Daily Daily Daily
Security Good Good Good
Main Stations Maputo Infulene Boane Infulene Gare de Mercadorias Salamanga Machava Marracuene Goba Matola Gare Manhiça Tenga Magude Pessene Xinavane Moamba Chókwè Movene Mabalane Ressano Garcia Combomune M´puzi Mapai Chicualacuala
CFM-Centre
Sena Line Machipanda Line
From Dondo to Malawi border (Nsanje) and Moatize 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). Mix of concrete (monoblock), wooden and steel sleepers. Pandrol clip. 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
Page 10 Main Stations Semacueza Manga Muanza Dondo Inhaminga Tica Inhamitanga Nhamatanda Caia Inchope Sena Gondola D. Ana Cafumpe Doa Chimoio Cambulatsitse Matsinhe Moatize Garuso Manica Machipanda
CFM-North
Route A Route B
Nacala – Entre Lagos 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 with some stretches still with 40 kg/m
Type of Sleeper and Fastenings Concrete sleepers (monoblock and bi-block). Concrete sleepers (bi-block).
Elastic fastening. 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 Nacala Cuamba Monapo Lichinga Namialo Nampula Rapale Ribaué Iapala Cuamba Entre Lagos
Key Stations
CFM-South
Key Station Information
Gare de Mercadorias
Location Mahotas Road-Rail Terminal in Maputo
Page 11 Contact Information Avenue Das Forças Populares, Rua da Gare, Nº 312 Maputo-Mozambique
T. : +258 21 460 780
Email: [email protected]
Connections with Other Road
Transport Means
Storage Capacity 110,000 m2
(m2 and m3)
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 Port of Beira Transport Means Road network in Sofala and Manica provinces Beira Airport (road connection) Road network in Tete province Tete airport (road connection) Road
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 Port of Nacala Transport Means Road network in Nampula, Niassa and Zambézia provinces Nampula airport (road connection)
Page 12 Storage Capacity
(m2 and m3)
Handling Equipment
Handling Capacity
Other Comments
Tariffs
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