TAZARA suspends Mukuba cross-border train services between Tanzania and Zambia

update 01 June 2026

TAZARA's Mukuba Cross-Border Train Services are set tso resume from 02 June 2026.

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Travellers planning an overland rail journey between Tanzania and Zambia will need to adjust their itineraries after the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) confirmed a temporary suspension of its Mukuba Cross-Border Train Services.

The suspension will run from 26 May to 01 June 2026, allowing TAZARA to carry out its annual mechanical maintenance programme, internal inspections, and essential servicing work on rolling stock and operational systems.

According to the railway operator, the temporary shutdown forms part of ongoing efforts to improve operational safety, reliability, and overall service efficiency across one of Southern Africa’s most iconic rail corridors.

What Travellers Need to Know

Passengers intending to travel between Tanzania and Zambia during the affected period are advised to make alternative travel arrangements or reschedule their journeys.

TAZARA says normal services are expected to resume on Tuesday, 02 June 2026, beginning with the Dar es Salaam-bound train.

The Mukuba service is particularly popular with budget-conscious travellers, backpackers, rail enthusiasts, and regional traders seeking an alternative to long-distance bus routes and expensive regional flights.

One of Africa’s most historic rail journeys

The TAZARA railway remains one of Africa’s most significant cross-border rail networks. Jointly owned by the governments of Tanzania and Zambia, the railway was constructed between 1970 and 1976 with support from the People’s Republic of China.

Stretching from the Port of Dar es Salaam to New Kapiri Mposhi, the line serves both freight and passenger traffic while connecting landlocked Zambia to the Indian Ocean.

For travellers, the journey offers a classic African rail experience through remote landscapes, rural communities, wildlife areas, and vast stretches of East and Southern Africa that are rarely seen from the air.

Why this maintenance matters

While temporary suspensions can disrupt travel plans, routine maintenance is essential for keeping long-distance rail services safe and dependable.

Rail infrastructure across Africa often faces operational challenges linked to aging rolling stock, demanding weather conditions, and heavy freight usage. Preventative maintenance programmes such as this help reduce the risk of delays, breakdowns, and service interruptions later in the year.

Travellers planning future TAZARA journeys between Tanzania and Zambia during the peak Southern African travel season are therefore encouraged to monitor schedules closely and book well in advance once services resume.

 

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TAZARA resumes Tanzania–Zambia passenger train services in February 2026!

Cross-border passenger train services between Tanzania and Zambia will resume on 10 February 2026, according to the Tanzania–Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA). The announcement marks the return of a key regional rail link after services were suspended in June 2024 due to technical and operational constraints.
The resumption restores rail connectivity between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi, supporting regional travel, trade, and tourism along the historic TAZARA corridor.

Fewer but more reliable services
As part of a broader passenger service reorganisation, TAZARA will reduce cross-border services from four to two trains per week. The move is aimed at improving reliability while optimising the use of an ageing but gradually rehabilitated fleet.

The focus will be on two core passenger services:

• Mukuba Service – the main cross-border train linking Tanzania and Zambia
• Udzungwa Service – a domestic service serving southern Tanzania

TAZARA says additional passenger coaches and locomotives are planned, which could allow for increased frequencies in the future.

Mukuba cross-border train schedule
The Mukuba service will operate as a combination of express and ordinary services, depending on passenger demand along different sections of the route:

• New Kapiri Mposhi > Dar es Salaam: Tuesdays at 14:00 CAT
• Dar es Salaam > New Kapiri Mposhi: Fridays at 15:50 EAT

Express sections will operate on high-demand stretches, while ordinary services will continue to serve intermediate stations, particularly in areas with limited road infrastructure.

Udzungwa local service
The Udzungwa service will continue to run twice weekly between Kidatu and Makambako, maintaining an important transport link for communities in Tanzania's Morogoro and Njombe regions.

What this means for travellers
The return of cross-border passenger trains offers an affordable and scenic travel option between Tanzania and Zambia, particularly appealing to overland travellers, backpackers, and those interested in historic rail journeys across southern Africa.

 

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