Rail is making a comeback in Mozambique and along the corridors served by its ports – albeit slowly. There is no need for road hauliers to start worrying just yet as the volumes are growing too fast for rail to catch up in the short to medium term. However, the movement of bulk off the road to rail is supported in principle by most people and companies involved in logistics in the region – even the truckers. One of the most interesting developments is the export of coal from Botswana through Zimbabwe to Maputo by rail. A trial load of 1 600 tons carried in 34 wagons proved the viability of the route in November 2012. This has the potential of providing the motivation and funding for the maintenance and upgrading of a line that will serve other exporters and importers along the 1 300 km line, which runs through the southern half of Zimbabwe, entering Mozambique at Chicualacuala. This avoids the congested Ressano Garcia line between the Lebombo border post in South Africa and Maputo. Although it was rehabilitated between 2006 and 2009, work has started on a major upgrade to handle heavier and longer trains. Further north, the first train in 25 years from Beira to Lusaka along the Machipanda railroad delivered 1 050 tons of inorganic fertilisers in October 2013. According to Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias, it was the first train to travel to Zambia in 25 years, after the link was closed during the 1976-1992 civil war. The reopening of the line was delayed by the failure of a company that had the concession to run the Beira railroad system to deliver on its commitments. These first 1 050 tons are part of a bigger lot of 10000 tons at the port complex. The cargo train was made up of 25 trucks that on their return will carry copper for export to the European, Asian, American and Australian markets. At the ceremony to mark the re-launch of the rail service, the governor of Sofala province, Félix Paulo, said that between the beginning of the year and the end of September 2.8 million tons of cargo had been carried on the two railway lines that make up the Beira railroad system, which was an increase of 32% compared with the same period in 2012. INSERT 32% The increase in traffic on the Beira railroad system from January to September this year.
