TAZARA train station

The TAZARA Railway, also known as the Uhuru Railway or Tanzam Railway, is a significant single-track railway spanning 1,860 kilometers (1,160 miles) across East Africa. It connects the port city of Dar es Salaam in eastern Tanzania with Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province. The railway was conceived and built to provide landlocked Zambia with an alternative trade route to the sea, reducing its economic reliance on white-minority governments in Rhodesia and South Africa during the Cold War era. Operated by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), it stands as a powerful symbol of South-South cooperation and China's support for African independence and development.Construction of the TAZARA Railway was a monumental undertaking, financed and supported by China as a turnkey project from 1970 to 1975, at a cost of US $406 million (equivalent to US $3.37 billion today). The project involved approximately 13,000 Chinese technicians working alongside 38,000 African laborers, facilitating a significant transfer of technical skills. The railway traverses diverse and often rugged landscapes. From Dar es Salaam, it heads southwest through Tanzania, passing through the northern part of the Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), where passengers can often spot wildlife such as giraffes, elephants, zebras, antelopes, and warthogs. A particularly challenging section lies between Mlimba and Makambako, where the line navigates the Udzungwa Mountains via a complex system of 46 bridges and 18 tunnels, including the impressive Mpanga River bridge supported by three 50-meter-tall pillars. The line reaches its highest elevation at Uyole in Mbeya, at 1,789.43 meters (5,870 feet), before continuing into Zambia and linking with Zambia Railways at Kapiri Mposhi.Despite facing operational challenges since its inception, TAZARA has remained an important economic conduit. It offers weekly passenger services, notably the Mukuba Express, between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi, which resumed on February 10, 2026, after a period of suspension. These trains, while slower than bus services, are generally considered cheaper and safer, attracting foreign tourists keen to experience the unique landscapes and observe wildlife along the route. The railway also plays a crucial role in local transport, with commuter rail services operating in Dar es Salaam and facilitating trade in local produce across previously isolated communities. The TAZARA is currently undergoing a major revitalization project, with a $1.4 billion investment from the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for track rehabilitation, safety improvements, and the acquisition of new locomotives and wagons, under a 30-year concession aimed at enhancing its freight and passenger transport capacity.