TAZARA: Resumption of cross-border passenger train operations between Tanzania and Zambia has been postponed again! [update #3]

update (15 September 2022): The Chambeshi Rail Bridge has been opened to traffic and freight operations have begun as the bridge parameters are observed. However, the Government Inspector of Railways In Zambia is yet to give TAZARA a green light for passenger services to begin. We'll keep you posted!

update (13 September 2022): According to a press release by Mdubi Mvula, public relations officer at the Zambian Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the physical testing of the Chambeshi Rail Bridge by running trains across is underway and the exercise is expected to be concluded by 14 September 2022, when full train operations will resume.

update (09 September 2022): TAZARA earlier today announced that the repair works on the damaged Chambeshi Rail Bridge have been completed. The contractor is currently doing final touches on the remaining works. TAZARA will next week commence testing of the repaired bridge by allowing trains with small loads to cross over the bridge and slowly allow heavy loads before resuming normal operations. We will keep you posted!

The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has to postpone the resumption of cross-border passenger train operations between Tanzania and Zambia again. We just got confirmation from TAZARA's Public Relations Manager, Conrad Simuchile, that the repairs at the Chambeshi Rail Bridge are not yet complete "due to unforseen challenges faced in completing the works by the Engineering Contractor". TAZARA now expects that the works will be finished by 27 (30) August 2022 and that the bi-national railway will resume operations between Tanzania and Zambia from 15 September 2022. We'll keep you posted!

Chambeshi Rail Bridge
© TAZARA

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is a bi-national railway, jointly owned by the Government of Tanzania and the Government of Zambia on an equal share-holding basis. The 1,860 km-rail runs from Tanzania and East Africa’s major seaport of Dar es Salaam into the heart of Zambia's Central Province, terminating at New Kapiri-Mposhi, where it is further linked by road and rail to Zambia's capital city, Lusaka (about 200 km), Zambia's mining nerve centre, the Copperbelt province (about 100 km) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).