Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) has signed a US$20 million vendor-financed agreement with Worldwide Rail and Mining Solutions (WWRMS) to rehabilitate, rebuild and upgrade six GT 3600HP mainline locomotives as part of its fleet revitalisation programme.
The agreement follows a procurement process and approvals from relevant authorities and represents a shift towards recovering and modernising existing assets within the railway’s fleet. The project will involve a comprehensive overhaul and upgrade of the six locomotives to restore performance, improve fuel efficiency, enhance reliability and extend operational lifespan.
Rehabilitation works will be carried out at the Zambia Railways Main Workshop in Kabwe. The programme is intended to address locomotive availability constraints and reduce reliance on hired locomotives at a time of increasing freight demand across domestic and regional corridors.
Implementation will take place in phases during 2026. The first two locomotives are expected to enter service between May and June, followed by two additional units in August and the final two between November and December. As each phase is completed, ZRL expects a gradual strengthening of its operational locomotive fleet and an increase in haulage capacity.
The project is structured under a vendor-financed deferred payment model. This allows the rehabilitation work to proceed without full upfront capital expenditure by ZRL, with repayment of the US$20 million investment to be made over time through revenues generated by the refurbished locomotives.
In addition to restoring rolling stock, the programme includes a technical skills development component. Fifteen ZRL engineers and technicians will participate in the rehabilitation process as part of a knowledge transfer initiative aimed at strengthening in-house maintenance capability and long-term operational sustainability. Upgrades to the Kabwe workshop will also support the rehabilitation activities.
Once completed, the refurbished locomotives are expected to improve fleet reliability and support increased freight movements for key economic sectors including mining, agriculture, energy, manufacturing and cross-border trade.
The partnership between ZRL and Worldwide Rail and Mining Solutions also highlights the role of private sector collaboration in supporting the rehabilitation and modernisation of state-owned railway assets.
