SEPTEMBER 12, 2008

  
       
MALAWI:
Central East African Railways



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CEAR train LP1 at Lambulira, Malawi

ALCO loco #509 at Limbe

Loco #506 on clinker train at Manatunu, Malawi

 
 
 
About CEAR    |    Statistics    |    System Map
Photo Gallery    |    News & Press Clips    |     Contact
 
Background
In May 1999, a consortium led by RDC was awarded the concession for Malawi's railway, a network extending from the Zambian border in the West to connections with Mozambique's Nacala Corridor to the East and Mozambique's Beira corridor to the South (the Beira corridor has been closed since the mid 1980's as a result of Mozambique's civil war). Principal markets served are the capital city of Lilongwe and the main economic center of Blantyre.

The consortium Corredor de Desenvolvimento do Norte ("CDN") included RDC, ERL (Bermuda), MANICA (Mozambique), Mozambican private investors and CFM (Mozambique's Port and Railway Administration). 

CDN formed the concessionaire company Central East African Railways ("CEAR") and began operations on December 1, 1999.

With the final concessioning of Mozambique's Nacala Port and Railway to the same consortium in January 2005, commercial and operational integration of the corridor will provide a more efficient and competitive outlet for landlocked Malawi.

On September 12, 2008 RDC and ERL sold their interests in CDN to Mozambican investor group INSITEC. Now the Nacala Corridor which includes CEAR will be managed and operated entirely by Mozambican investors.

Operating Statistics
Statistics as of December 31, 2008
Major Traffic Flows
Length
in Km.		 Length
in Miles		 Annual Tonnage Locomotives Wagons Maize
Containers
Fuels
Fertilizer
Cement
Tobacco
Sugar
 
797
 		 495 220,000 19 403

System Map

click to print map using Adobe Acrobat Reader printer-friendly map (372k PDF)

click to view Malawi system map
Click on thumbnail to view larger image of the Malawi railroad system.





[Map design provided by Bill Metzger]
Photo Gallery
More photos of Central East African Railways' operations can be found in our Photo Gallery.

View a fascinating collection of photos taken of Malawi Railways from 1970 to 1974. (link will open a New Window)


News and Press Clips
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(clicking on the Title will open a New Window in your browser)
Contact Information

Central East African Railways
Station Road
P.O. Box 5144
Limbe
MALAWI

Telephone:
Fax:
Contact:
E-Mail:

+265 1 840 844
+265 1 843 496
Hendry Chimwaza, General Manager
cear@cearcdn.mw
 
 
 


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