Tourist Train Collision: Victoria Falls-Bound Tourists Escape Injury, Staff Hospitalised

 VICTORIA FALLS – A serious train collision just outside Gwanda early this morning has left 18 people hospitalised and raised urgent questions about Zimbabwe’s rail safety standards in 2025.

The incident involved a luxury Rovos Rail passenger train carrying 47 international tourists en route to Victoria Falls and a Bulawayo-Beitbridge Railway (BBR) goods train.

The collision occurred at approximately 6:30 AM, eight kilometres outside Gwanda. While initial reports had suggested tourists were among the injured, railway officials later confirmed that all casualties were staff members. Fourteen of the injured were taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital, while four were transferred to Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo for further treatment. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

The Rovos Rail train had been travelling from South Africa, offering a luxury cross-border experience for tourists seeking to witness the grandeur of Victoria Falls. With the rail journey now interrupted, the tourists will complete the remainder of the 435-kilometre trip by road on Friday.

However, the rerouting comes with its own frustrations. The rail operator has warned that the journey could take up to eight hours due to deteriorating road conditions between Gwanda and Victoria Falls. Many have voiced concerns about the poor state of infrastructure and the impact this may have on Zimbabwe’s reputation as a premier tourist destination.

Rovos Rail has issued a statement apologising for the disruption and confirmed that passengers will receive a full refund for the journey.

While the cause of the collision has not yet been officially established, an investigation is underway. Transport and Infrastructure officials have been dispatched to the scene, and the Railways Inspectorate is expected to provide a preliminary report in the coming days.

Observers are questioning how such an accident could occur on a mainline in 2025, given technological advancements in signalling and train tracking systems. Critics say the accident is symptomatic of deeper issues in the country’s state-run infrastructure, which has suffered years of neglect, underinvestment, and alleged corruption.

“This is not just about a train crash,” said one transport analyst. “It’s about the failure to modernise and maintain our transport systems—something tourists and citizens alike are now paying the price for.”

Public sentiment online and in local communities has been fierce, with many Zimbabweans expressing embarrassment and outrage over the incident.

“We are a nation that boasts about Victoria Falls as a world-class destination,” said one Victoria Falls-based tour operator. “But how do we expect the world to take us seriously when we can’t even ensure the safety of a luxury train ride or offer decent roads as a backup?”

Others have pointed fingers at systemic corruption within the transport ministry and associated parastatals, alleging that misappropriation of funds meant for infrastructure upgrades has left the country dangerously vulnerable to such accidents.

As the injured recover and the tourists prepare for a long road trip through Zimbabwe’s potholed highways, the spotlight now turns to the government’s response. The tourism industry, already reeling from inflation and power shortages, can ill afford another blow to its image.

This incident has not only exposed flaws in railway operations but also reignited debate about the broader decay of Zimbabwe’s public infrastructure—a situation many believe is the result of chronic mismanagement and unchecked greed.

For now, the nation holds its breath, hoping that investigations will yield answers—and accountability.

Source: Tourists Train Collision: Victoria Falls-Bound Tourists Escape Injury, Staff Hospitalised (1804/25)

Kazungula Bridge boosts Bots tourism

 Harare - The opening of Kazungula Bridge will boost tourist arrivals into Botswana’s tourism mecca of Kasane, the country’s Tourism Minister Philda Kereng has said.

The bridge straddles the Zambezi River at Kazungula Crossing where Botswana and Zambia share a border, and also stretches over the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe rivers where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet.

The 923m and US$259 million bridge is part of a broader infrastructure initiative that will ultimately connect the Port of Durban in South Africa to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Botswana’s Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism Minister Kereng said the bridge is expected to open to traffic this year.

The gateway to Chobe National Park, Kasane spreads out along the banks of the Chobe River where an array of hotels, guest houses and campsites can accommodate all the visitors to the world-renowned facility.

“This bridge has recently been handed over by the contractors, it is complete. It is a bridge that is quite a milestone for the economy of Botswana and for the tourism industry,” Minister Kereng said after touring the bridge last week.

“We appreciate this bridge very much especially at this point where we are diversifying tourism, Kasane becomes a much more diversified location or tourist destination. Also for tourists, when you go to London (England) for instance, you have the London Bridge and all these big rivers with nice bridges they are tourist attractions on their own so we are looking at this beautiful bridge and saying it is going to interest our tourists after seeing the animals there is also something else they can see. It will be able to enhance the face of Kasane.”

Minister Kereng went on: “We are also informed that this bridge is well blended into the ecosystem, the environment of Chobe. There is a railway line that has been incorporated into the bridge, and the interesting part is that this bridge has incorporated features that are friendly to the environment, we hear that there is a breeding place for hippos near the bridge and the rubber that has been used around the railway is going to absorb all the sound that would otherwise disturb the animals.”

Botswana recently allowed the resumption of chartered flights into the country's prime tourist destinations, in an attempt to boost the tourism sector which has lost hundreds of millions of dollars since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chartered flights are being allowed to land at two airports in Maun and Kasane, both in the vicinity of the vast Okavango Delta, one of the world’s largest wetlands.

Tourism contributes around 13 percent to the So/uthern African country’s GDP./

Source: Kazungula Bridge boosts Bots tourism (28/11/20)

Most romantic train journeys to Victoria falls

 Luxury train travel to Victoria Falls transports you back to a golden era where travel was so much more than purely a means of getting from one place to another. The 5-star hotels-on-wheels combine gracious travel and old-world romance with modern conveniences to create an unforgettable experience. South Africa boasts having two of the five most luxurious train services in the world which are unashameably marketed to the elite traveller; Rovos Pride of Africa and the Blue Train. You’ll fall in love with this genteel mode of transport which allows you to take in the resplendent beauty of the countryside at your leisure.

Rovos Rail Rovos Pride of Africa offers one of the most outstanding train experiences in the world. The company operates four vintage steam locomotives which have been beautifully restored with wood-paneled deluxe suites, plush dining cars, sumptuous lounge cars and observation cars with a unique open-air balcony. Routes begin and end at Capital Park in Pretoria, South  Africa, which in itself is a special experience. Once the bustling hub of steam locomotion inSouth Africa, the railway station has been carefully restored to its former gracious state. You’ll find a small working railway museum at Capital Park that showcases the history of train travel in South Africa. The two most popular Rovos Rail routes are the shorter trip between Pretoria and Cape Town in South Africa which includes a visit to the historic town of Matjiesfontein and the Diamond Mine Museum; and the hugely popular 3-day adventure from Pretoria to the iconic Victoria Falls. Other routes on offer take you to Swakopmund in Namibia and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Every two years Rovos Rail runs a Cape-to-Cairo route, using private chartered aircraft and lake cruisers for parts of the journey. Rovos Pride of Africa offers a selection of suites with the penultimate being the spacious and elegant Royal Suites. Each Royal Suite has its own private lounge area and full bathroom with Victorian bath and separate shower. Blue Train The Blue Train has been operational since 1946 and is one of the oldest luxury trains in the world. Ferrying high-end travellers in gracious style, the company operates two trains which each have an elegant wood-paneled lounge car, dining car and observation car as well as a selection of deluxe suites.Kings, princesses and presidents have wined and dined on South Africa’s famous ‘Palace on Wheels’. A newly-restored Blue Train was introduced in 1997 and the traditional route between Cape Town and Pretoria was extended northwards to Victoria Falls. READ ALSO: Buhari expresses sadness over death of APC Chairman in South Africa A second luxury train came into service, addingto the choice of routes; Hoedspruit on the western edge of the Kruger National Park and Port Elizabeth on the magnificent Garden Route in South Africa. On the popular route from Pretoria to Cape Town, the train stops at Kimberley to visit the Big Hole and the town’s famous Diamond Mine Museum. Returning to Pretoria, the train stops in the quaint town of Matjiesfontein where guests are treated to a sherry at the Lord Milner Hotel which was founded in 1884 by a legendary Scottish railway man. Gourmet meals, crisp cotton linen and soft duck down duvets, crystal glasses and silver cutlery, marble bathrooms with luxurious deep baths, sumptuous couches, fine cigars in the Club Car and your own personal butler… just a few of the luxuries you can look forward on the Blue Train. Royal Livingstone Express Enjoy the ultimate romantic dinner at Victoria Falls, travelling there on the 5-star Royal Livingstone Express. The captivating steam train takes you on a 15-kilometre scenic journey along what was once the largest privately-owned railway network in the world,set up by the Zambezi Sawmills in 1916. Starting at the elegant Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, you travel through the magical Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park for a safari tour with a difference and on to historic Victoria Falls Bridge. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park incorporates the Victoria Falls World Heritage national monument site and Mosi-oa-Tunya Game Park which is home to the Big 5. The luxury restaurant-on-wheels comprises five stylish coaches that have been carefully restored by Rovos Rail, and pulled by a beautiful steam locomotive. The Royal Livingstone Express pauses on the famous bridge where guests disembark and enjoy the most spectacular view as the sun sets over the Victoria Falls National Park. The luxury train proceeds to Palm Grove Siding where guests are treated to a decadent six-course meal. Enroute back to Livingstone, the spacious and elegant lounge car and glass-paneled observation car is the perfect place to settle down with a bottle of champagne or refreshing cocktail, and take in the glorious African night. The Royal Livingstone Express transports you back to a period of graceful travel and offers a glorious blend of luxury, romance, fine-dining, wildlife sightings and spectacular scenery. One of the dining cars, The Wembley, was built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company and has been on display since 1923.Take a step back in time and immerse yourself in the heady romance of a bygone era

Source: Most romantic train journeys to Victoria falls (18/06/20)

Zambia, Botswana to construct railway across Zambezi

Zambia and Botswana have signed a US $259m agreement to construct a 430km long railway to link the two countries across the Kazungula Bridge.

Zambia Railways Ltd and Botswana Railways’ boards resolved during a meeting held in Kasane to facilitate the construction of the lengthy line and a show of cooperation. According to Zambia Railways board chairperson Lubinda Linyama, construction of the project scheduled to begin soon after the 900-metre-long Kazungula bridge is completed and commissioned by June next year.

The railway project  dubbed, “Mosetse-Kazungula-Livingstone”, is aimed to reduce transit time and transportation costs for both the people and boost trade trade in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The actual cost of the project will be established after undertaking a feasibility study.

“The project was proven feasible and as a quicker means of  transporting  goods and passengers in addition to roads to ease transportation problems and once completed will benefit all other countries in the 16-country-member region and bolster trade in real time,” said Mr. Lubinda.

“Zambia is up to date with its financial obligations for the construction of the Kazungula bridge which we are co- financing with Botswana to accelerate its completion,” he added.

Linyama also allayed fears that the bridge would not be complete in due course following rescheduling of the completion timetable but assured that the two countries were determined to ensure the project was completed as planned despite challenges faced in recent months.

“We are determined to undertake this (railway line) project despite the challenges that may arise.” said the board chairperson.

Source: Zambia, Botswana to construct railway across Zambezi (30/07/19)

Zambia, Botswana to construct railway across Zambezi

 Zambia and Botswana have signed a US $259m agreement to construct a 430km long railway to link the two countries across the Kazungula Bridge.

Zambia Railways Ltd and Botswana Railways’ boards resolved during a meeting held in Kasane to facilitate the construction of the lengthy line and a show of cooperation. According to Zambia Railways board chairperson Lubinda Linyama, construction of the project scheduled to begin soon after the 900-metre-long Kazungula bridge is completed and commissioned by June next year.

The railway project  dubbed, “Mosetse-Kazungula-Livingstone”, is aimed to reduce transit time and transportation costs for both the people and boost trade trade in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The actual cost of the project will be established after undertaking a feasibility study.

“The project was proven feasible and as a quicker means of  transporting  goods and passengers in addition to roads to ease transportation problems and once completed will benefit all other countries in the 16-country-member region and bolster trade in real time,” said Mr. Lubinda.

“Zambia is up to date with its financial obligations for the construction of the Kazungula bridge which we are co- financing with Botswana to accelerate its completion,” he added.

Linyama also allayed fears that the bridge would not be complete in due course following rescheduling of the completion timetable but assured that the two countries were determined to ensure the project was completed as planned despite challenges faced in recent months.

“We are determined to undertake this (railway line) project despite the challenges that may arise.” said the board chairperson.

Source: Zambia, Botswana to construct railway across Zambezi (30/06/19)

Ministers derail NRZ revival

THE $400 million deal to recapitalise the National Railways of Zimbabwe has been thrown into jeopardy, after rival suitors for the parastatal, fronted by Cabinet ministers, launched a last-minute bid to abort the transaction.

The ministers are pushing for the involvement of China Railway Eryuan Engineering Corporation (CREEC), which did not participate in the bidding process and Sinohydro, which took part in the tender but lost out. CREEC signed an agreement with NRZ for railway network planning and rehabilitation of four corridors, including the supply of traction and rolling stock and other equipment in May 2015.

The company undertook a feasibility study which initially put the project cost at $750 million. The figure was subsequently reduced to $324 million.

The derailment of the NRZ’s revival programme risks damaging and expensive litigation for government should it decide to cancel the tender. The country also stands to lose its strategic geographical advantage which makes it a potential regional hub.

As President Robert Mugabe’s government bickers and dithers over the rail project, Zimbabwe’s neighours are investing in networks to bypass the country.

On Zimbabwe’s western border, Botswana is pursuing a $260 million road-rail link with Zambia, while the African Development Bank (AfDB) is funding Mozambique’s Nacala rail project, to link that country with Malawi and, potentially, Zambia by extension.

The Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG) — a consortium of 500 non-resident Zimbabwean professionals — in partnership with South Africa’s Transnet, was last month announced winner of the NRZ recapitalisation tender.

However, multiple sources told The Financial Gazette this week that Mugabe’s Cabinet has held back signing off on the deal after spirited opposition led by Information 
Communications and Technology Minister, Supa Mandiwanzira, Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Obert Mpofu and Labour Minister Prisca Mupfumira.
Transport Minister Joram Gumbo, who sought Cabinet approval for the deal last week, failed to defend it against the onslaught from ministers opposed to it.

“After a sustained onslaught, mainly from the trio, Gumbo failed to defend the transaction,” one source said.

“This prompted the President to ask the minister to go back and review.”

Another source said ministers opposed to the DIDG-Transnet-NRZ deal raised three main issues — financial and technical capacity as well as a five percent royalty payment due to the government of Zimbabwe annually, for the duration of the 25-year project.

“This is despite the fact that the tender documents bear evidence of availability of funds and financial backing from major South African bank, Standard Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Nedbank and development financier, Industrial Development Corporation,” the source said.
Documents seen by The Financial Gazette show that the institutions’ financial backing for the transaction exceeds $1 billion, far more than the scope of the NRZ recapitalisation.

“It was evident, early on, Minister Gumbo was not sufficiently prepared to make the case for this transaction. In the end, he came just short of disowning it.”

Apart from enjoying the technical expertise of Transnet, DIDG, is led by professionals currently involved in billion-dollar deals in South Africa and east Africa. Mpofu, a former transport minister weighed in, saying an abortive deal between NRZ and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) had been a better proposition. 

The $700 million DBSA loan deal, which fell through a few years ago, was priced at 16 percent, according to officials with inside knowledge of the discussions. Funding for the DIDG-Transnet-NRZ deal is understood to be at about 6,5 percent interest.
“The five percent royalty clause deliberately misrepresented as a purchase price by opponents of the deal is just a structure put in place to clear the NRZ’s historical debt, mainly salary arrears,” a source said.
Ministers opposed to the DIDG-Transnet-NRZ deal are reportedly doing the bidding for a rival group led by a non-resident indigenisation proponent and banker, who is understood to have tried to lobby Transnet to drop DIDG.
The ministers want government to rope in the China’s CREC and Sinohydro. Well placed sources said CREC wanted to be awarded the tender without submitting a bid.
They added that government exposed itself to the risk of damaging and expensive litigation if it moved to cancel the tender.
Chimhandamba said his consortium remained committed to the transaction, but declined to comment further.
Gumbo declined to comment when contacted for this story.
NRZ chairman Larry Mavima yesterday confirmed that the transaction was under review, but declined to give details of Cabinet’s decision.
“Cabinet issues are confidential, so for now it will be difficult for me to comment.
“But I can tell you that there were some questions regarding the structure of the Transnet/DIDG deal and certain financial capacity,” Mavima said.
“Cabinet has now asked the minister to go back and verify the capacity. I believe the shareholder is right to question the capacity of the winner. I, however, hope this is not a situation where a golden opportunity can be missed.
“We are hoping to submit clarifications soon so that government can reconsider its decision because this was the best opportunity for NRZ. This was going to revive the economy as it would benefit from cheaper transportation for goods.”
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary general, Japhet Moyo said government should not let the NRZ deal collapse, as it has brought renewed hope to the rail company’s estimated 5 000 employees, collapse.

Citing the $750 million to revive Zisco, which suffered a stillbirth a few years ago, after India’s Essar walked away Moyo said: “This would not surprise us if the deal does not materialise because the culture has not changed. It’s a disaster for the economy and for the workers who are owed millions of dollars because they were starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.”
The DIDG-Transnet consortium emerged winners after one of the most transparent bidding processes conducted by the State in recent times.
There were five other bidders vying for the NRZ revival, namely China Civil Engineering, Sino Hydro, accountancy firm Crowe Horwath & Welsha, SHM Railway of Malaysia and Croyeaux Limited of Zimbabwe.
The adjudication process was overseen by an adjudication team comprising members from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Office of the President and Cabinet, State Enterprises Restructuring Agency and NRZ.
The NRZ board also engaged Deloitte as a transaction advisor.
newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw

Source: Ministers derail NRZ revival (21/09/17)

NRZ gets $400m lifeline

The State Procurement Board (SPB) has awarded a $400 million tender for the revival of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) to a consortium comprising Transnet and the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group, throwing a lifeline to the parastatal seen as a key enabler to economic revival.At least 88 companies across the globe bid for the resuscitation of NRZ, including eight from Britain and 16 from South Africa. The Herald is reliably informed that companies as far as China, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates had also expressed interest in the deal.

Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo confirmed the development in an interview with The Herald.

“It is true,” he said. “I am really excited. The National Railways of Zimbabwe is a very important key performance enabler to our economy. If you look at the movement of coal, mining products, agricultural produce and even passengers, it plays a critical role.

“When it is functioning well, it results in the preservation of our roads. Haulage trucks were damaging roads.”

Dr Gumbo thanked Government for taking over the NRZ debt, saying it opened the gates for investors, who all along were interested in the parastatal, but were uncomfortable with its indebtedness.

“When I made a request to warehouse the NRZ debt and Government agreed, I was relieved,” he said. “We got 88 bidders from Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Britain. The interest was high.

“I am happy SPB awarded this tender to indigenous people. Zimbabweans who have come up with own funding. If Zimbabweans who are outside the country could work together and come home and make a contribution like this to our country, I marvel at such developments. It is very good news for the country. NRZ used to employ many people.”

The other companies that were shortlisted included China Civil Engineering, Sino Hydro, Crowe Horwath & Welsa Chartered, SHM Railway of Malaysia and Croyeaux Ltd.

But the SPB awarded the $400 million NRZ capitalisation tender to a consortium comprising Transnet and the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG).

DIDG executive chairman Mr Donavan Chimhandamba, who is also the co-chair of the DIDG/Transnet Consortium confirmed the development last night.

He said they had since received communication from NRZ. “We will commence with contract negotiations as early as next week,” said Mr Chimhandamba. “We hope that within the next two months all agreements will be concluded and we can immediately commence with the major works.”

Mr Chimhandamba said DIDG and Transnet were venturing into the project as an equal partnership.

NRZ requires at least $400m recapitalisation, which include the procurement of new locomotives and resuscitation of infrastructure to increase its annual traffic volumes.

DIDG is made up of Zimbabweans in the diaspora who have pooled their financial resources. The company is made up of various economic technocrats based mainly in South Africa and overseas.

Mr Chimhandamba said they had a strong dedicated team of experts, with all the members having been involved in entrepreneurship and starting up a number of successful companies.

He said they had experience working with local, regional and international financial institutions.

Source: NRZ gets $400m lifeline (10/08/17)

1580 km of Zimbabwe rail now dysfunctional

The National Railways of Zimbabwe has about 3512 out of 75153 wagons in service while the paratstal has 168 fleet of locomotives of which 60 are in service.

The NRZ revealed this in its introduction during the recapitalisation pre-conference meeting.

The parastatal stated that an estimated 10% of its tracks infrastructure is under cautions temporary speed restrictions.

"The automated centralised train control system which covered the network's mainline of about 1580 km is now dysfunctional while the 133km electrified section between Dabuka in Gweru and Msasa in Harare was vandalised resulting in total suspension of electric locomotives," said the NRZ.

The parastatal needs $400 million for the initial recapitalisation out of the $2 billion needed for the overhaul rehabilitation of the institution.

Source: 1580 km of Zimbabwe rail now dysfunctional (01/06/17)

More: Zimbabwe rail network 'a death trap' (27/08/14)

Tourist tram returns to the Falls

Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls

EXPRESSING talent is a hobby for many people while commercialising it is a rare ability of the few.
Mr Marthinus Nel (55), a diesel mechanic by profession based in Bulawayo, belongs to this unique bracket of talented entrepreneurs who smell opportunity when others see problems.

His is a story of an engineer with a passion for tourism, one who sought to use his professional skills to develop a product that contributes economic value to his hobby — travelling.

Recently, Mr Marthinus launched the Zambezi Tram in Victoria Falls, which he built from scratch at a cost of $140 000, probably making him the first Zimbabwean to ever make such a development in years.

The four-cylinder diesel engine machine, has an eight speed power shaft-four forward and four reverse and control decks on both ends and carries tourists to the Victoria Falls Bridge and Rainforest.

It can clock 80km per hour and can carry 30 passengers at one go. Its benches face one direction but can be tilted to face the opposite direction.

Mr Nel runs the business with his wife Cheryl (45), and the couple has attracted the attention of other countries who are interested in importing the model tram, which can bring the much needed revenue and create more employment.

“I already got some inquiries from operators in South Africa who want the trams. They want me to build a tram and export to South Africa,” said Mr Nel.

He said he was waiting for confirmation of the order and was likely to start working on the tram in the first quarter of the year.

“A South African company wants to sell the trams on our behalf in the neighbouring country and I guess that’ll be good for Bulawayo and the country as we make our contribution to Zim-Asset. If opportunity presents itself we should use our skills,” said Mr Nel.

The 30-seater Zambezi Tram started operating in the last half of December 2016 after Mr Nel completed it in October last year.

He said he started working on the tram in December 2015 and completed it in October the following year.

“We started talking about it in November 2015 with Cheryl and we held meetings with the National Railways of Zimbabwe to see if we could get a licence.

“We reached an agreement in December 2015 and started gathering pieces of metal. We acquired the rest of the equipment locally while only the engine was imported from South Africa,” said Mr Nel.

The Nel family, which now employs 12 permanent workers and scores of contract individuals, operates another similar service in the Ngamo area where a tram carries tourists in the game park.

“We started the business in 1992 as Nel Car and Technical Services in Belmont, Bulawayo. We also run Elephant Express, which operates in Dete and Ngamo Forest areas. That was our first experience,” said Mr Nel.

The Zambezi Tram enters a market that has not been tendered for a long time following the demise of the Victoria Falls Steam Train Company, which folded and was liquidated because of debts. Mr Nel said his idea was to enter the market and offer a permanent service.

“We got to know about the previous tram that was here and thought we could replace it and bring good fortunes to tourism in Victoria Falls,” he told Business Chronicle.
Tourists already love the Zambezi Tram.

“We completed it in October and drove over two days from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls. It’s not designed for high speed hence we spent two nights, stopping at lodges as a marketing strategy,” added Mr Nel.

To make an impression into the market, the Zambezi Tram company took tour industry managers on a trial run recently.

The tram is fitted with a PA system from where a guide makes announcements and explanations to clients along the way.

The tram drive is one experience not to miss, with open sides fitted with slide safety ropes with a roof for protection against direct sun and rain.

It runs three daily trips in the morning, afternoon and evening depending on the NRZ schedule. A single drive costs $70 for adults while children pay half the price with those aged below three years riding free of charge.

A festive season special of $50 for adults ended on January 5.

Cheryl, who manages the business, said they looked forward to increasing the volume of tourist rides in the course of the year.

“We have been marketing through social media and some pamphlets. Recently, we took managers on a ride and we have applied to Trip Advisor to have the tram service added as we believe there is going to be more people coming into the country,” she said.

“The festive season is usually a quiet period in terms of business because a majority of tourists are locals who don’t do much of such activities and we expect international numbers to start swelling in March.”

Cheryl said the tram can run its scheduled trips even with two passengers as they are still marketing.
The guide, Mr Aaron Ndlovu, said clients were enjoying the ride. He said they were trying to reach out to locals especially couples doing weddings.

“This is a different activity altogether. A tram was a mode of transport from 1903 and it’s like we are simply reliving that.

“It’s so unique because of the open sides which gives clients a clear view of nature and the surrounding,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said visitors enjoy viewing wildlife such as bushbucks, elephants, impalas, guinea fouls and sometimes hippos.

Source: Nel an entrepreneur with a difference (16/1/17)

Steam Trains back in fashion

Steam locomotives are back in Zimbabwe (pictured) after being upset for so many decades, desiels and electric trains are being used and a few steam trains running are used in tourist resorts like Victoria Falls and they are owned by private companies like the Victoria Falls Steam train which does trips to the amazing victoriafalls and across the border to Zambia.

Steam locomotives have proved very popular with tourists and this has prompted the National Railways of Zimbabwe to refurbish seven additional locomotives to bring the fleet of steam locomotives to 10, the parastatal’s public relations manager, Mr Fanuel Masikati, said yesterday.

In an interview, Mr Masikati said the locomotives were being used for rail leisure safari, targeting mainly tourists. Mr Masikati said the recent steam locomotive trial run from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls proved very popular with tourists.

“Our target was to have 200 passengers for the maiden trip from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls but we ended up with more than 300 as the trip was over subscribed. In response, we decided to refurbish additional locomotives to meet demand,” he said.

Mr Masikati said the rail leisure steam safari trains will be running on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls, Bulawayo-Plumtree and Bulawayo-Mbalabala routes. “These trains will run on special days such as the Mother’s, Father’s, Valentine’s and family fun days,” he said.

Mr Masikati said introduction of the rail leisure steam safari trains was expected to generate additional business for the parastatal which in turn was going to increase revenue inflow. “Tourists and the general members of the public enjoy steam locomotives as evidenced by the overwhelming response we got for the maiden Bulawayo-Victoria Falls trip. We are receiving a lot of inquiries locally and internationally from individuals and families that want to take a ride on the trains.

Mr Masikati said the launch of the facility was yet to be confirmed. “Right now we are going to exhibit the rail leisure safari train at the Sanganai-Hlanganani travel expo which this year is going to be held in Harare. It is only after this that we will decide on the launch date,” he said.

Source: Steam Trains Back in Zimbabwe (Oct 2015)

Zimbabwe rail network 'a death trap'

THE Railway Association of Enginemen (RAE), a union that represents National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) train drivers, has warned that the country's 3 000km rail network is now a death trap. RAE said the whole rail network had become dangerous for train drivers and passengers and reporting for duty was now risky for them as derailments occurred regularly.

 The union said the government, NRZ's major shareholder, should decisively act and rehabilitate the dilapidated rail infrastructure. This comes in the wake of the derailment of a Harare-bound train that left 22 people injured, one of them seriously, on Saturday night at Heany Junction about 30km east of Bulawayo. RAE vice-president Juniel Manyere told Southern Eye yesterday that the dilapidated rail infrastructure was a stumbling block to the country's economic revival. "Our members are very much concerned about the frequency of train derailments which occur on a daily bases, but the majority remain unknown to the public," he said. "The rail network has become a death trap to us (drivers) and members of the public. The whole network is littered with speed cautions and in most routes, especially the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls one, the speed limit is just less than 40km/hour. "

This delay in movement of goods and passengers has seen people running away from doing business with us. The government should urgently intervene and rehabilitate the dilapidated infrastructure. Rail traffic is pivotal to the national economic recovery and there is no way ZimAsset will succeed with the current infrastructure."

 The ailing NRZ requires $50 million to lay a new railway line connecting Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. In the past, the parastatal blamed train accidents on vandalism of infrastructure as most of the country's electrified rail network has fallen prey to thieves who target overhead copper cables used on the railway network. The World Bank once suggested that NRZ close down nearly two-thirds of its railway network to allow for rehabilitation because of the high potential for disaster they posed. Zimbabwe's rail network, once a hub of the regional transport network, stretches for 3 077km. 

Newly-appointed NRZ board chairperson Alvord Mabena said the railway tracks were totally unreliable and it was now risky to travel by train. He said some of the infrastructure was obsolete and suggested suspension of all passenger train operations. "Running a passenger train is not profitable (and) instead is a waste of money by the parastatal," he said. "As long as the government does not subsidise NRZ, it is better to close the service." Mabhena, who was NRZ general manager during arguably the rail company's most successful period before retiring in 1998, said countries such as Botswana resorted to selling the passenger coaches to Mozambique due to profitability concerns. 

"The government must come up with a hard decision and do away with passenger trains," he said. "Botswana ended up selling its coaches to Mozambique after having experienced viability problems. The infrastructure is obsolete and it is risky to travel by train. The coaches that are in used were made and designed in South Africa in the 1990s. "I participated in the designing of these coaches hence I say they are old to be safe for use by people." Mabena warned that more accidents could not be ruled out if the government did not fund the parastatal.

 The revival of the rail infrastructure is pivotal to the country's economic turnaround programme as investors require such infrastructure for the efficient movement of goods and services. Experts recommend privatisation as the only way the NRZ can be revitalised as the government is facing a myriad of challenges all related to liquidity constraints. NRZ requires about $400 million in the short to medium term to revitalise its operations and about $10 billion in the next 10 years to reach full, safe and reliable operating capacity.

 Source: Zimbabwe rail network 'a death trap' (26/08/14)

Sun, Steel & Spray - a history of the Victoria Falls Bridge

Sun, Steel & Spray - A History of the Victoria Falls Bridge was first published in 2011, and the first edition (20,000 words) is still available for sale from the The Victoria Falls Bridge Shop and other selected outlets in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Sun, Steel & Spray is a comprehensive history of the planning and construction of the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge and is illustrated with a wealth of photographs from the building of the bridge to modern day.

A revised and extended second edition (over 40,000 words) was published in July 2016 and is available through Amazon for online order.

Letting off steam on the Royal Livingstone Express

The Victoria Falls, a vintage train and fine game viewing – the Royal Livingstone Express has it all, says Kieron Humphrey. Spare a thought for the fireman of the Royal Livingstone Express: the sun is a meltingly hot 35C and he's shovelling coal into a furnace. Meanwhile, the engine driver is keeping an eye out for hazards on the line, particularly elephants. They usually amble out of the way, I'm told, but every now and again a big bull decides to challenge this strange hooting newcomer.

For the passengers, riding the Royal is an unashamed exercise in luxury travel – the perfect end to a day admiring the majestic Victoria Falls. The five-hour excursion is all about attentive service and fine dining, with the chance to view game as a bonus. And vintage rail enthusiasts will find plenty to admire about the train itself – a symphony of steam, steel, polished paintwork, gleaming teak and luxurious leather.

While the experience may feel timeless, the steam safari is quite a recent addition to Livingstone's list of attractions. "I saw an advertisement one day, inviting bids to run a tourist train," says Chris Tett, the man behind the train. "When I was little I used to terrify my mother by telling her I wanted to be a train driver. Suddenly I saw my chance." That was in 2004, when Tett was looking to expand the travel company he had set up in Zambia after six years in the Irish Guards and an unsuccessful experiment with prawn farming in Mozambique.

Tett won the tender and spent three years scouting for rolling stock in marshalling yards all over southern Africa. "Then I got a call from Rohan Vos, of Rovos Rail. 'I've found your train set,' he said."

The "train set" consisted of five carriages in varying states of decay: an observation car, with an open-air deck, elegant lounge car and "Wembley" dining car (named for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition where it was exhibited), a Chesterfield dining car and a club car, which houses the kitchen. Each was given a complete overhaul, blending original fittings and features with modern comforts such as air conditioning units, a humidor and a wine cellar.

The sweaty, sooty interior of the cab, on the other hand, is exactly as it was when the engine first plied this stretch of line, 86 years ago. Built by the North British Locomotive Company in 1922-4, the 10th Class "Princess of Mulobezi" originally hauled timber for Zambezi Sawmills. It was saved from the scrapyard in the Seventies by David Shepherd, the wildlife artist and conservationist, and operated on the Zimbabwean side of the Falls for many years. As the Mugabe regime took its toll on the country's fortunes, so the Princess began to show signs of neglect. She was brought back to Zambia and given the kiss of life by Ben Costa, a veteran railway engineer whose eyes sparkle as he tells how replacement parts had to be scratch-built from the specification sheets.

Even if you're normally left cold by steam, you may well be impressed by a trip on the Express. With vapour from the Victoria Falls hanging above the trees in the distance, the train pays tribute with its own puff of smoke and heads west out of Livingstone, through the teeming suburb of Dambwe. Children cluster at the trackside to wave and tiny fragments of town life can be seen through the window: a stallholder displaying dried fish; a man teetering along on an overburdened bicycle; a young man in sunglasses berating a passing driver for splashing mud onto his trousers.

Soon the corrugated iron roofs of Dambwe are left behind. The train pauses while the guard opens the gate to the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, and now it is no longer children staring as we pass, but impala and an unperturbed giraffe. The park has been restocked with white rhino recently and is also home to buffalo, zebra, monkeys and several species of antelope. Opportunities for sighting game vary with the time of year, but if wildlife is seen the train usually makes a halt for photographs.

Ten miles along the track there is a longer halt for dinner. Five courses, with a seemingly never-ending flow of South African wines, come courtesy of the chef and staff at the Royal Livingstone Hotel, flagship of Sun International's Zambian stable. It's hard to fault the food, and there are rumours that the renowned chef Conrad Gallagher has been brought in to improve the menu still further.
But for me, the most magical element of the meal was watching twilight shroud the mopane trees, and hearing bush birds call their goodnights. If Cecil Rhodes's grand vision for a Cape Town-to-Cairo railway had ever been fulfilled, perhaps it would have been like this.

Source: Letting off steam on the Royal Livingstone Express (22/03/09)

40 die in Zimbabwe train crash

At least 40 people have been killed and about 60 others injured in a train crash in western Zimbabwe, according to the authorities.

A passenger train collided with a goods train carrying inflammable material near the town of Dete, on a railway line linking the southern city of Bulawayo to the western resort of Victoria Falls. A fierce fire broke out, and some of the dead were burnt beyond recognition.

State radio said 30 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage, and many more passengers were being ferried to hospital facilities at the nearby town of Hwange.

Hours after the crash at 0300 local time (0100 GMT), rescuers were still trying to free people trapped in the mangled wreckage, and there were fears that the death toll would rise.

Zimbabwe's Transport Minister Witness Mangwende - who visited the scene of the crash - blamed the accident on human error. Mr Mangwende said a mistake in track signals had sent the two trains onto the same track. President Robert Mugabe sent his condolences to the relatives of the dead.

String of crashes

The passenger train was believed to have carried 1,100 people in 13 coaches, 11 of which were destroyed in the crash, which was apparently head-on.

The BBC's Hilary Andersson says passenger trains in Zimbabwe have become increasingly overcrowded in recent months due to severe fuel shortages. She says the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has found it difficult to import spare parts and maintenance equipment for its railway system recently, because of the lack of hard currency in the country.

Saturday's accident is the latest in a string of crashes involving trains in Zimbabwe.

Last month, five people were killed and more than 100 injured when a goods train ploughed into a bus in Harare.

Last October, 22 people were injured when a passenger train on its way to Victoria Falls derailed near Hwange after colliding with an elephant.

Our correspondent says the latest incident will not make it any easier for Zimbabwe to improve its image as a safe and attractive tourist destination prior to the Cricket World Cup, which starts later this month.

Source: 40 die in Zimbabwe train crash (02/02/03)