The Mozambique Railways Company (CFM) will resume passenger rail transport in the southern part of the country next Monday (26), 12 days after the suspension caused by the floods, the state-owned company announced.
In a statement cited by Lusa, CFM clarified that the resumption will cover the Goba line and the Matola-Gare, Manhiça, and Marracuene services, integrated into the Ressano Garcia and Limpopo lines, respectively, all located in southern Mozambique.
According to the company, the restoration of passenger trains is part of ongoing efforts to reestablish the movement of people and goods following the suspension of services caused by heavy rains, which compromised the safety and operability of the railway.
Rail traffic had been suspended on the Ressano Garcia and Goba lines, which connect Maputo to South Africa and Eswatini, respectively, due to flooding that affected the safe operation of the railway infrastructure.
At the time, CFM-Sul’s Director of Railway Operations, Arnaldo Manjate, explained that on the Ressano Garcia line—which connects the Port of Maputo to the Ressano Garcia border with South Africa—several landslide points were recorded along the route. According to Manjate, critical situations also occurred in the Moamba area, where floodwaters reached the railway platform, requiring the opening of drainage channels to facilitate water flow and reduce pressure on the railway infrastructure.
Among the main damages identified, he highlighted the displacement of soil, ballast, rails, and sleepers, a situation that required emergency interventions to ensure minimum safety conditions. In the Matola-Gare area, floodwaters also exceeded the line, and trenches were opened to ensure proper drainage.
A similar scenario was observed on the Goba line, connecting Maputo to Eswatini, where traffic had been suspended due to accumulated rainwater. The same situation occurred on the Limpopo line, whose interruption had been announced by CFM on January 15.
Source: Diário Económico
