Newsletter Subscription

Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM) has confirmed that construction of the new passenger terminal at Maputo Central Station is on track.

The project comprises the development of eight lines for boarding and disembarking, a new company headquarters, a shopping centre, a hotel, conference rooms, a car park and other services. 

The chairman of CFM's board of directors Agostinho Francisco Langa Júnior gave the update during a visit to inspect the requalification work. The US$150 million project is being carried out in collaboration with Maputo City Council as part of the 25 de Setembro and Albert Lithuli Avenues will also be remodeled. 

Langa also visited the site of the US$82 million project to double 50km of track along the Ressano Garcia railway line, which links Mozambique and South Africa, from the Matola-Gare administrative post to Secogene in Maputo province. The work includes the construction of four new bridges.

“The evaluation that we are making is positive for the time being. The great concern was to be sure that the work is being done with quality and, above all, that the deadlines will be met. From what we have seen, we believe that by the middle or end of September, we will have the work on both the bridges and the lines concluded,” said Langa, according to the news site Club Of Mozambique, citing the Maputo daily Notícias.

In April, Langa announced that the rehabilitation of the Machipanda Line would be completed in six months' time. The US$200 million upgrade covers the 318-kilometre line between the Port of Beira in Mozambique and Machipanda, near the border with Zimbabwe.

Work has included reducing the number of tight bends from 14 to four to cut the frequency of train derailments. Passenger services will also be reintroduced.

The Machipanda project aims to boost the economy within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and increase the flow of cargo, including wheat and ferrochrome. Cargo volumes are expected to increase from 600,000 tonnes annually to 3.5 million tonnes a year. The Machipanda Line was originally built in 1892.

Photo: Machine laying rail track (© Verdelho | Dreamstime)