Railways Africa

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) last paid its staff full wages last May, i.e. 11 months ago. On 11 April, a memo signed by general manager Air Commodore (retd) Mike Karakadzai proposed that workers be paid between 50 and 75% of their salaries from the end of April, depending on their grades, with the [...]

National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) locomotive drivers went on strike on 12 March, listing a number of grievances. One of these is the absence of fire extinguishers. According to the Bulawayo Chronicle, quoting an NRZ employee, “These are the most important things that should be present on a train. One needs a fire extinguisher to [...]

Gladys Ncube writes in The Zimbabwean: “Last month riot police were engaged in running battles in the city centre with the wives of National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) workers who were protesting against the parastatal’s management for failing to pay their husbands’ salaries. Over a hundred wives of workers gathered again yesterday at the (NRZ) [...]

Further detail on the 17 February special passenger train from Bulawayo, posted on the zimrail site by Mike Taylor: “The train departed Bulawayo at 15:00, hauled by a very well presented 15th class Garratt no 395, in black livery with red and silver wheels and motion. Class 16A Garratt no 613 was readied for service [...]

Chas Rickwood reporting on zimrail: The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) ran one of their popular Valentine’s Day specials on 17 February. Hauled by 15th class Garratt 395, the train ran out and back to Khami on the Plumtree line. This was followed by a three-course dinner in the railway museum, enjoyed by the 100-plus [...]

According to a note from John Batwell based on a National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) release, “the government announced early in 2012 that it had secured funds to purchase 14 locomotives from China, hopefully for delivery during 2013. The NRZ deposited $US2.9 million some time ago, but the manufacturers insisted on full payment of $29 [...]

The Geoff’s Trains annual steam charter season in southern Africa is planned to run as follows: 18 to 25 May 2013. Garratts to Victoria Falls- class 14A, 15 and 16A. 24 to 28 May 2013. Bulawayo, home of the working Garratt fleet. 28 to 31 May 2013. Selebe Phikwe, Botswana. Industrial steam – class 19D. [...]

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) aimed to move 6.4 million tonnes of freight in 2012 but – blaming economic circumstances- was unable to reach the target. Undaunted, the stated objective for 2013 is 6 million tons, despite a fleet strength of only 65 locomotives against a requirement for 83. There are 3,271 operable wagons, [...]

A joint international railway operations control centre is to be established in Bulawayo, to direct traffic on the South Africa-Zimbabwe-Zambia-DRC corridor. South African transport minister Ben Martins announced this in parliament, explaining that the five affected administrations are in talks to streamline workings on the line. In addition to the state railways of the four [...]