Limpopo railway
Overview
StatusOperational
Termini
Service
TypeCape gauge
Operator(s)CFM and NRZ
History
Opened1914
Technical
Line length900 km (560 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Limpopo Railway, also called Gweru-Maputo railway,[1] is a railway that connects the city of Maputo, Mozambique, to the city from Somabhula, in Zimbabwe. It is 900 km long, in a 1067 mm gauge.[2][3]

On the Mozambican stretch, between Maputo and Chicualacuala, the managing company is Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM);[1] on the Zimbabwean stretch, between the cities of Nyangambe (Sango-Nyala) and Somabhula, the administration is done by the company National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).[4]

Its main maritime logistics facility is the port of Maputo.[1]

History

The construction of a railway line that was to run parallel to the valleys of the Incomati and Limpopo rivers began in the 1910s, initially connecting the city of Moamba, Magude and Ungubana, reaching the village of Xinavane. This stretch was completed and entered into operations in 1914.[5][6]

In May 1953, works on the line were resumed,[5] connecting Ungubana (the Ungubana-Xinavane link became a railway branch) to Chócue and Canicado, then heading north, reaching Chicualacuala (formerly Malvernia) in 1955.[6]

The second stage of the line was inaugurated at a ceremony held on 1 August 1955,[5] where Mozambican-Portuguese and Nyasaland-British colonial authorities were present. The Mozambican stretch initially connected Moamba and Chicualacuala, using the stretch of the Ressano Garcia railway between Moamba and Maputo to access the port of Maputo.[7]

In the 1960s the government of Rhodesia completed the extension of the railway from Chicualacuala/Nyangambe, passing through Rutenga, until reaching the Somabhula junction station.[8]

The Mozambican Civil War interrupted railroad traffic, causing, due to attacks and sabotages, the almost total degradation of the Mozambican section of the line.[9]

The Limpopo Railway was restored in the 1990s, but had to be practically rebuilt in 2004 after the damage caused by the floods in 2000 in the Limpopo and Incomati river valleys.[3]

After the reopening, it changed its route definitively, starting from Maputo and not from Moamba, going directly to Manhiça and Chócue;[2] however, they have been operating well below cargo capacity, due to weak demand from Zimbabwe and other neighboring countries.[3]

Railway branches

The Limpopo railway has two important branches:

  • Nandi-Mkwasine branch: connects the village of Mbizi to the village of Mkwasine.[10]
  • Noelvale branch: in the city of Zvishavane.

Railway connections

In Rutenga, the Limpopo line connects with the Rutenga-Beitbridge railway.[11]

In Somabhula, the Limpopo line connects with the Beira-Bulawayo railway.[12]

In Maputo, the Limpopo line connects with the Pretoria-Maputo railway[12] and the Goba railway.

Main railway stations

Limpopo railway map (red line); railways with junction (in green); other railway routes (in blue).

The main railway stations of the Limpopo railway are:

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Linha do Limpopo" (HTML). CFM. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 Mozambique Logistics Infrastructure: Mozambique Railway Assessment. Atlassian Confluence. 10 de dezembro de 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Zimbabwe: Railway Lines Underused. All Africa. 28 de agosto de 2018.
  4. ↑ Network System: System Map. National Railways Of Zimbabwe. 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 D'Ornellas, Carlos. Caminho de Ferro de Limpopo. Gazeta dos Caminhos de Ferro. 16 october 1955. pg. 372 and 410
  6. 1 2 Fernandes, José Manuel. Gaza, Moçambique: Enquadramento Histórico e Urbanismo. Heritage of Portuguese Influence / Património de Influência Portuguesa — HPIP. 4 june 2021
  7. ↑ United States. Bureau of Foreign Commerce. World Trade Information Service: Utilities abroad. Volume 1, Parte 1. 1955.
  8. ↑ Revamping the Regional Railway Systems in Eastern and Southern Africa WTO. 31 january 2011
  9. ↑ Jane Perlez, Special To the New York Times. Beira Journal; Road to Prosperity Has a Special Hazard: Rebels. The New York Times. 21 de fevereiro de 1989.
  10. ↑ NRZ rehabilitates Chiredzi railway line. The Herald. 08 dec, 2017.
  11. ↑ Additional information’s, comments and other contributions to the history of 1 BN (Photos, documentation, comments, personal stories and experiences by former soldiers of the unit). 1 Battalion Guard Force. 2013.
  12. 1 2 Two empires, two railway projects. United World. 8 november 2021.
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