TAZARA: Temporary suspension of passenger train services in Zambia! [update]

update (10 October 2023): TAZARA's services in Zambia  are set to resume from today, so that crossborder passenger train services between Zambia and Tanzania are also back to normal.

• Kapiri-Mposhi to Dar es Salaam,  Tuesday 10 October 2023,  16:00 (On time).
• Dar es Salaam to Kapiri-Mposhi, Tuesday 10 October 2023, 13:50 (Departure likely to be delayed)

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has announced that passenger train operations in Zambia have been suspended until further notice. According to the railway's management, this is due to goods train accidents that have recently occurred in the Kapwila-Msanza and Chankalamo-Kabuluma sections. Both accident spots are located in Zambia. TAZARA's passenger train operations in Tanzania are not affected by the accident. The Kilimanjaro Passenger Train will continue to run between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya only, based on the normal train schedules. TAZARA is planing to resume passenger train operations in Zambia next week. We'll keep you posted!

• Dar es Salaam > Mbeya: Tuesdays and Fridays
• Mbeya > Dar es Salaam: Wednesdays and Saturdays

© 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).

 

TAZARA: Temporary suspension of passenger train services in Zambia! [update #2]

update (17 April 2023): Bridge no. 299 has been repaired, the line has been reopened and the passenger trains are back on track. Therefore, both the Mukuba and Kilimanjaro Passenger Trains will run as per normal train schedule, departing New Kapiri-Mposhi and Dar es Salaam on Tuesday at 16:00 and 13:50, respectively.

update (14 April 2023): TAZARA is expecting to resume passenger train operations in Zambia on 18 April 2023. We'll keep you posted!

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has announced that passenger train operations in Zambia have been suspended until further notice. This is due to an accident involving a rescue crane, which dislocated bridge No. 299 in Mpika and made the main track impassable. The accident took place on 10 April 2023. Consequently, the section between Mpika and Sabwa is temporarily closed for repairs. 

© TAZARA

TAZARA's passenger train operations in Tanzania are not affected by the accident. The Kilimanjaro Passenger Train will continue to run between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya only, based on the normal train schedules. We'll keep you posted!

• Dar es Salaam > Mbeya: Tuesdays and Fridays
• Mbeya > Dar es Salaam: Wednesdays and Saturdays

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).    

TAZARA: Temporary suspension of passenger train services between Zambia & Tanzania! [update]

update (06 December 2022): TAZARA's interstate passenger train operations between Zambia and Tanzania resumed today.

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has announced the suspension of cross-border passenger services between Zambia and Tanzania due to a train accident involving a freight train. The accident occurred in the early hours of 30 November 2022. The section between Lumumwe and Mpanga in Tanzania, where the accident occurred, has been temporarily closed as rescue operations are underway.
In the meantime, until further notice, TAZARA's passenger services in Tanzania are only be
available between Dar es Salaam and Mlimba, whilst in Zambia the services are only
be available between New Kapiri-Mposhi and Nakonde. We'll keep you posted!

© 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).   

Zimbabwe: National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is planning to resume passenger train operations "soon"!

Zimbabwe's Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joel Biggie Matiza, announced in a media briefing in Bulawayo on 25 June 2020 that National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is planning to resume passenger train operations in Zimbabwe soon. The Minister didn't name a specific date. Both NRZ's urban and long-distance trains were suspended in March 2020 in line with Zimbabwe's lockdown restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Upon of the return, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) will introduce more routes in cities and between districts as well as provinces. According to the Mr. Matiza there is still a lot that needs to be done in terms of ensuring that the trains are safe and that issues such as social distancing are implemented in the trains. [src.] We'll keep you posted!

Coronavirus pandemic: TAZARA has released an update on its passenger train services in Tanzania & Zambia! [update]

update (06 August 2020): TAZARA's cross-border passenger trains between Tanzania and Zambia remain suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, until further notice. 

update (20 July 2020): TAZARA's cross-border passenger trains between Tanzania and Zambia remain suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, until further notice.

update (30 May 2020): The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has repaired the track formation that got damaged at KM32 in Mwakanga (32 kilometres south-west of Dar es Salaam), following a landslide that occurred on 30 April 2020 and resulted in the track being rendered impassable. Train operations have now resumed.

update (25 May 2020): The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has announced the resumption of services in Zambia. Following the easing of the lockdown in the city of Nakonde, Passenger Train operations between New Kapiri Mposhi and Nakonde have been resumed.
The Mukuba Express Train will, from 26 May 2020, run on the usual timetable, departing New Kapiri Mposhi at 16:00 and return from Nakonde on Saturday 30 May at 16:47. The cross-border passenger trains between Tanzania and Zambia remain suspended until further notice.

update (23 May 2020): The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is frantically working on restoring train operations following a disruption occasioned by a landslide that occurred on 30 April 2020 around the Mwakanga area, 32 kilometres south-west of Dar es Salaam. The landslide was caused by heavy and persistent rainfall in the area, which weakened 35 metres of the track formation, rendering the railroad impassable.

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has relased a update on its passenger train services. According to TAZARA, the passenger train service between Tanzania and Zambia will remain suspended until further notice due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Mukuba Passenger Train for Zambia (Kapiri Mposhi <> Nakonde) also remains suspended until further notice, due to the lockdown in Nakonde. The Kilimanjaro Passenger Train for Tanzania is also not operating, due to technical reasons, until further notice. Only the Udzungwa Shuttle Train (Kidatu <> Makambako) and the Dar es Salaam Commuter Train (Dar es Salaam <> Mwakanga) are currently running on schedule.
The TAZARA Railway, operated by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), is a railroad in East Africa linking the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with the town of New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province.

Tanzania / Zambia: TAZARA suspends border crossing for passenger trains!

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has announced that both the Mukuba Passenger Train and Kilimanjaro Passenger Train will no longer cross the border between Tanzania and Zambia with effect from 30 March 2020 until further notice due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The trains will instead continue to run within the respective boundaries of the two countries. This adjustment in passenger train operations is inline with the measures taken by the Government of Tanzania and the Government of Zambia in the effort to control the spread of the virus. However, freight train operations are not affected by this change.

The new operational schedules for the two passenger trains will be as follows:

Mukuba Passenger Train:

• The Mukuba Passenger Train will depart New Kapiri Mposhi as it normally does on Tuesday, but terminate and u-turn at Nakonde on Wednesday, arriving at New Kapiri Mposhi on Thursday. The train will run again on Friday from New Kapiri Mposhi to Nakonde, u-turning at Nakonde on Saturday and arriving in New Kapiri Mposhi on Sunday.

Kilimanjaro  Passenger Train:

• The Kilimanjaro Passenger Train will depart Dar es Salaam as it normally does on Tuesday, but terminate and u-turn at Mbeya on Wednesday, arriving at Dar es Salaam on Friday, early in the morning. The train will run again on the same Friday from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya, u-turning at Mbeya on Saturday and arriving in Dar es Salaam in the early hours of Monday.

The TAZARA Railway, operated by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), is a railroad in East Africa linking the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with the town of New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province.

Kenya to launch a new railway line between Nairobi <> Naivasha today! [update]

update (18 October 2019): According to news reports, trains between Nairobi and Naivasha are operating three times a day.

Kenya Railways is set to open the new extension of the Kenya Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) today. The 120 kilometer railway line between Nairobi and Naivasha is the second phase of the SGR; the first phase of the project was the construction of the new railway line between Mombasa and Nairobi, which was opened in May 2017. As of now, only passenger services will be available between Nairobi and Naivasha and only four (Ongata Rongai, Ngong, Mai Mahiu and Suswa) of the anticipated 12 stations along the route will be operational. A train schedule and pricing is currently not available. 

Naivasha is located in Nakuru County about 100km northwest of Nairobi. The town is the gateway to nearby Hell's Gate National Park, Mount Longonot National Park and Mount Longonot as well as Lake Naivasha.

Zimbabwe: National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has doubled its inter-city passenger train fares!

National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has doubled its inter-city passenger train fares for all three classes due to rising operational expenses. The company operates daily passenger train services between Bulawayo <> Victoria Falls, Bulawayo <> Harare and Mutare <> Harare as well as weekly passenger train services between Bulawayo <> Chiredzi and Bulawayo <> Chikwalakwala. 

Tickets in economy class on the Bulawayo <> Victoria Falls and Bulawayo <> Harare routes have been increased from $20 to $40, in second class from $25 to $50 and in sleeper class from $30 to $60. The fares for tickets Mutare <> Harare return route increased to $25 from $12 in economy class, to $30 from $15 in standard class and to $40 from $20 in sleeper class. The new fares for the Bulawayo <> Chiredzi and Bulawayo <> Chikwalakwala routes have not been made public so far. The fares for NRZ's intra-city commuter train services remain unchanged at $1 for a return ticket.

Zimbabwe: National Railways of Zimbabwe has increased fares on its inter-city passenger trains!

National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), the parastatal railway of Zimbabwe, has increased passenger fares on its inter-city passenger trains, which connect Bulawayo <> Victoria Falls, Bulawayo <> Harare, Mutare <> Harare (all daily) as well as Bulawayo <> Chiredzi and Bulawayo <> Chikwalakwala (all weekly). According to NRZ Public Relations Manager, Mr Nyasha Maravanyika, the increase is due to rising operational expenses. The increase affects all the three classes with effect from 25 February 2019.

• Bulawayo <> Victoria Falls
• First Class: $20 (from $12)
• Second "Standard" Class: $17 (from $8)
• Third "Economy" Class: $15 (from $6)
• Bulawayo <> Harare
• First Class: $20 (from $12)
• Second "Standard" Class: $17 (from $8)
• Third "Economy" Class: $15 (from $6)
• Mutare <> Harare
• First Class: $15 (from $8)
• Second "Standard" Class: $13 (from $6)
• Third "Economy" Class: $10 (from $4)
• Bulawayo <> Chiredzi
• First Class: $13 (from $14)
• Second "Standard" Class: $11 (from $9)
• Third "Economy" Class: $8 (from $7)
• Bulawayo <> Chikwalakwala
• First Class: $14 (from $14)
• Second "Standard" Class: $12 (from $10)
• Third "Economy" Class: $9 (from $7)

TAZARA: New passenger fares in Zambia!

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has announced that it will adjust passenger fares for the TAZARA Railway in Zambia. The adjustment will erase the disparity between fares paid for in Tanzanian shillings (TSh) and fares paid for in Zambian Kwacha caused by continued depreciation of the Zambian Kwacha relative to the Tanzanian shilling (TSh). The new fares, as indicated in the schedules for both Express and Ordinary passenger trains in Zambia, will become effective from 17 September 2018.



The TAZARA Railway, operated by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), is a railroad in East Africa linking the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with the town of New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province.

You may download the new fares here (pdf) >>

Kenya: Passenger train service between Nairobi <> Mombasa temporarily suspended!

The popular passenger train service between Kenya's capital Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa has been temporarily suspended, as Rift Valley Railways (RVR) is set to refurbish all coaches. The upgrade of the 20 wagons will take about four month, so that services will most likely resume at the end of November 2016.
Rift Valley Railways usually operates two weekly trains (Mombasa Deluxe Service) between Nairobi and Mombasa on Mondays and Fridays (Nairobi > Mombasa) as well as on Tuesdays and Sundays (Mombasa > Nairobi). The cost of travelling first class is currently Sh4,405 (all inclusive), second class Sh3,385 (all inclusive) or Sh2,335 (fare/bed & breakfast) while third class travel is Sh680 (fare). Trains depart Nairobi/Mombasa at 19:00 in the evening and arrive in Mombasa/Nairobi at 10:00 next day morning.

Book Your Private Driver Now Book Your Tour Guide Now

TAZARA: Train operations resume in Zambia!

We just got information from the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) that train operations in Zambia resume today (17 July 2015). TAZARA's train operations in Zambia stopped on 29 June 2015 due to a strike by the unionized staff, who tried to press for the payment of their four months salary arrears through work stoppage. The workers at all stations between New Kapiri Mposhi and Nakonde called off their strike action on 16 July 2015 following the payment of the salary arrears by the government of Zambia.
With the resumption of normal operations, the ordinary passenger train, which normally runs on Fridays, will be operated from New Kapiri Mposhi today (17 July 2015) and U-turn on 18 July 2015 at Nakonde on the Zambian side, whilst the Tanzanian side will also run a scheduled ordinary passenger train from Dar es Salaam today and U-turn at Mbeya on 18 July 2015 as well. Both the Mukuba and Kilimanjaro express passenger trains will resume full cross-border operations between Tanzania and Zambia on 21 July 2015.

PRASA re-introduces passenger train service between Cape Town <> East London!

According to Bush Radio 89.5 fm, a community radio station from Cape Town, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) will re-introduce its train service between Cape Town in the Western Cape and East London in the Eastern Cape on 03 May 2015. South Africa's long-distance passenger rail operator Shosholoza Meyl, a division of PRASA, will run a train from Cape Town to East London every Sunday (departure time: 10:25) and from East London to Cape Town every Tuesday (departure time: 14:22).

TAZARA cancels operations in Zambia until 21 April 2014

We just got information from the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) that the Dar es Salaam-bound Kilimanjaro Ordinary Passenger Train that was scheduled to depart New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia on 18 April 2014 at 14:00hrs CAT has been canceled due to the closure of the main line in Tanzania following various incidences that have affected operations.

• all the train stocks are currently in Tanzania, with one of the stocks being blocked in Dar es Salaam where a Heavy Motor Trolley derailed on Tuesday 15th April 2014 thereby blocking the line.
• In the last two weeks, heavy rains in Dar es Salaam have wrecked havoc, causing one major wash-away that dismantled the soil formation and left 40 metres of the rail hanging about 2.4 kilometres from the Port of Dar es Salaam as well as a major landslide affecting about 25 metres of the track, 36 kilometres from Dar es Salaam.
• In Tanzania, the Mukuba Passenger Train that was scheduled to depart on 15 April 2014 was eventually cancelled following delays emanating from the landslide and track blockage that resulted from the derailment of the Motor Trolley that was servicing the landslide site.

Rescue operations are currently in progress at all sites and normal operations are expected to resume by 21 April 2014. The next express passenger trains will therefore depart simultaneously from Dar Es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi next Tuesday (22 April 2014), while the next ordinary passenger trains will depart simultaneously next Friday (25 April 2014) from Dar Es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi.

Tanzania/Zambia: TAZARA to increase fares from 01 July 2013 >>

Tanzania/Zambia: TAZARA shut after accident!

update (25 Nove 2013): We just received an email from Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA). All operations went back to normal on 24 Nov 2013.

update (25 Nov 2013): According to the online edition of the Ugandan newspaper "New Vision", the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) reopened on Sunday (24 Nov 2013) after a 7-day-long closure.

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which links the Tanzanian port of Dar Es Salaam with the town of New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province, has suspended the transportation of passengers and freight between the two countries. The railway is expected to remain closed for at least seven days (since 18 Nov 2013) after a truck destroyed a section of the Chimbuya railway bridge, some 650km from Dar Es Salaam. We'll keep you posted!

Tanzania/Zambia: TAZARA to increase fares from 01 July 2013

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is set to increase passenger fares for both express and ordinary trains by an average of 23% with effect from 01 July 2013. According to TAZARA's head of public relations, Conrad Simuchile, passengers fares had to be adjusted upwards because of the rising cost of fuel. The last time fares were increased was in 2011.

New Kapiri Mposhi (Zambia) > Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) new fares for express train tickets:

• First Class: KR333.60 (was KR261.00) [currency converter]
• Second Class: KR272.20 (was KR247.50)
• Third Class: KR233,20 (was KR196.00)

New Kapiri Mposhi (Zambia) > Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) new fares for ordinary train tickets:

• First Class: KR278.00 (was KR205.00) [currency converter]
• Second Class: KR226.00 (was KR189.00)
• Third Class: KR194.00 (was KR169)

Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) > New Kapiri Mposhi (Zambia) new fares for express train tickets:

• First Class: TSh104,000.00 (was TSh79,900.00) [currency converter]
• Second Class: TSh84,600.00 (was TSh66,000.00)
• Thrid Class: TS72,000.00 (was TSh58,900.00)

Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) > New Kapiri Mposhi (Zambia) new fares for ordinary train tickets:

• First Class: TSh86,500.00 (was TSh70,400.00) [currency converter]
• Second Class: TSh70,600.00 (was TSh55,000.00)
• Third Class: TSh60,500.00 (was TSh48,600.00)

TAZARA's express passenger trains currently depart simultaneously from Dar Es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi every Tuesday, while TAZARA's ordinary passenger trains also depart simultaneously every Friday from Dar Es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi.

• TAZARA's trains have First Class coaches with 4 berths per compartment, Second Class coaches with 6 berths per compartment, a semi-luxurious super sitter coach and third class coaches.
• TAZARA's express passenger trains only stop at major stations along the way between Dar Es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi and it takes approximately 46 hours to travel between the two destinations. Express trains, according to TAZARA, are recommended for international passengers as they have facilities for comfort
• TAZARA's ordinary passenger trains do not cross the borders, but stop at every serviceable railway station. The classes of coaches are similar to the express train except that these only have one dining car.
• Tickets for the TAZARA trains are sold at most of TAZARA stations and also at TAZARA's Lusaka area office in Dedan Kimathi Street. At the office staff will advise you on how to get to New Kapiri Mposhi from Lusaka.
• At New Kapiri Mposhi one can catch a public bus and taxis to Lusaka (ca. 200km) or any other place you may be travelling to.

Gauteng: Gautrain to increase fares on 01 June 2012

Gautrain announced earlier this month that it will be increasing its fares in line with current inflation as from 01 June 2012. Commuter train fares will be increased by just over 6% on average, while the Airport service and Parking fees will get increased slightly more. Bus fares will remain unchanged.
Airport single tickets will go up by 8%, with the trip from Sandton costing R115 instead of R105, and from Hatfield, Pretoria, R135 instead of R125. Parking fees are currently for instance R10.00 (one day) and will be increased to R12.00 (1hrs - 24hrs); 15min - 1hrs will cost R10.00 from 01 June 2012.

Click here to download the new fare structure (pdf)

The Gautrain system provides its customers with a modern train service between OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) and the Sandton CBD ("Airport Service") and between Johannesburg Park Station, located between the city's CBD and Braamfontein, and Tshwane’s Hatfield Station ("Commuter Service") in Hatfield, Pretoria.

Shosholoza Meyl drops daily Johannesburg <> Cape Town tourist class service

update (01 Sept 2011): The Premier Classe train connection Johannesburg <> Durban will be scaled down to the last Friday of the month from October 2011.

@SouthAfricaRail (www.shosholoza-meyl.co.za) just tweeted that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has changed the time table of the Shosholoza Meyl long-distance train service connecting Johannesburg <> Cape Town. The tourist class will with immediate effect from 01 October 2011 only travel on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sunday and not daily as it used to be.
Shosholoza Meyl 's tourist class offers the traveller two person coupés and four person compartments with bunk beds. The fare is currently R450/pax oneway.
During the day, the sleeper compartments are getting converted into suites with hot and cold water from a basin stowed underneath the fold-up table. Communal toilets and showers are available at the end of each coach.
It is advised to bring your own bedding, but it can also be purchased on board (R40/pax)
Food and Snacks can be taken on board or purchased in the dining car and from the compartment trolley service.
To book your train tickets, visit www.shosholoza-meyl.co.za.