The Central East African Railways (Cear) has said transit time for goods is expected to improve following rehabilitation works on the Limbe – Nkaya rail line.
Cear last year embarked on a multi-million kwacha rehabilitation works of the rail line expected to be complete next year.
The company’s Communications and Corporate Image Manager Chisomo Mwamadi said Cear targets to improve the transport industry in the country.
He said the rehabilitation works will help improve transit time as most customers complained of delays.
“This is why we want to make sure that the infrastructure is improved, so that our service delivery is also improved. From august going forward, we are sure that we will reduce the transit time,” he said.
Mwamadi said the first phase of the works involves the rehabilitation of the Limbe – Lirangwe line and is expected to be completed by December this year.
“The second phase will be the rehabilitation of the Lirangwe – Nkaya line next year,” he said.
He further said the areas to be rehabilitated will include replacing the existing 30kg/metre rails with 40kg/ metre rails.
Mwamadi said the new rails are safer and heavier and will help improve train speed.
“We are also replacing earth ballast with stone ballast which will bring stability to the line and improve drainage.
“Steel sleepers are also going to be replaced with concrete sleepers which were prone to vandalism rust and posed a threat to train movement,” said Mwamadi.
He also said the works will also improve drainage system including repair of bridges and culverts.
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