Switch to rail as Tazara service gets a facelift

Unlike most other Southern
African countries, there is a
shift back to rail in Zambia.
Many of the freight companies
interviewed by FTW are now
using rail, with the historic Tazara
service between the Copperbelt
and Dar es Salaam being upgraded.
The line runs from the Tanzanian
port to the town of New Kapiri
Mposhi in Central Zambia, where
it links with the existing Zambia
Railways System.
Tazara has an agreement with
the Railway Systems of Zambia
(RSZ) for seamless connection of
cargo between Dar Es Salaam and
Copperbelt/Lusaka. “Our clients
can now transport their cargo
between the Port of Dar es Salaam
in Tanzania on one hand and Ndola
and Lusaka in Zambia without
transhipment,” says the company.
This has contributed to the line
becoming more cost effective,
while safety issues have also been
addressed.
All trains are escorted by armed
state police officers to ensure and
guarantee the safety of customers’
goods at all times, as well as
strict accountability by handling
crews, according to a company
spokesperson.
Trains are pulled by some of the
most powerful diesel electric locos
in the region, while the railway
has over 1 500 wagons in service,
ranging in capacity from 30 to 90
metric tons.
“Besides seamless connection,
the contract has a mutual benefit
to both railways of improved
availability of rolling stock.
This is because the wagons and
locomotives from RSZ can move
on Tazara line and vice versa,”
says the company.
Freight forwarders interviewed
by FTW said greater reliability of
the train service, organised gangs
targeting copper road shipments,
and lack of maintenance of the
roads were all contributing to
putting freight rail back on the
tracks in the sub-region.
The upgrading of the Tazara link
started in 2008 with the launch
of a strategic plan designed to
increase levels of freight by 60%
and passengers by 40%, according
to the company.
Speaking in July last year at
a media conference to celebrate
the line’s 33rd birthday, Tazara
deputy managing director Damas
Ndumbaro said the company
had embarked on an “ambitious
programme” to target freight
landed in Dar es Salaam and
destined for the DRC, Rwanda,
Burundi and Zambia.
Tazara is repairing and
rehabilitating its existing
equipment in its own workshops,
and has purchased locomotives,
container wagons, a rescue
crane and other equipment worth
around US$40-million from
China.