Attempts by the Zambian government to move 30% of freight off the roads are being derailed by red tape, in addition to capacity, according to a country report by the CrossBorder Road Transportation Agency (C-BRTA). The country has two rail operators – Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ), which serves the north-south corridor and connects with the Zimbabwean rail operator for onward service to the port of Durban; and Tanzania and Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) which operates an eastward route from the Copperbelt into Tanzania and on to Dar es Salaam. “The lack of reciprocal access rights delays rail transit through Zambia and along the entire north south corridor. “A rail freight journey of 3 000 km from Kolwezi on the DRC border to the port of Durban takes 38 days to complete ie, nine days of travel time and 29 days associated with customs clearance and loading and interchange. “Freight moves no more than four km per hour on average, and the aggregate costs of delays along the corridor have been estimated at $120 million per year,” according to the report. “The Zambian railways generally operate well below their original design capacity, yet they cannot increase their volumes because of poor track condition, lack of locomotive and wagon availability, and low operating capital,” it adds. Challenges also equal opportunities, according to the agency. Logistics companies are stepping into the gap by investing in their own wagons and locomotives in order to keep freight moving on rail. The government is also investing in rail. According to the C-BRTA, a recent opening of the ChipataMchinji railway link “provides connectivity into the Malawi railway network, further connects Zambia to the northern Mozambique railway network, and opens up new and exciting opportunities for the private sector in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.