CFM Seeks Loan to Upgrade Beira-Machipanda Line

[John Ashworth]

CFM Seeks Loan To Upgrade Beira-Machipanda Line

The Mozambican port and rail operator Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) is seeking corporate funding to refurbish the 317km line between Beira and Machipanda on the border with Zimbabwe, African Development Bank Group (AFDB) reports. The single track railway offers Zimbabwe its shortest link to the sea via the eastern city of Mutare and is part of the Beira corridor, a regional initiative serving Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The route is known for its steep grades. After rising gradually to 60m at Nhamatanda, 97.5km from Beira, over the next 80km it begins climbing steeply to Gondola (663m above sea level) on 2% grades and 300m radius curves. The line, which has 46 stations, opened in 1899 as a 610mm gauge colonial railway before being re-gauged to 1065mm in the early 20th Century...