TANZANIA Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) reintroduced a cross-border passenger service between Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia, on February 10. The service was suspended in June 2024 due to what Tazara describes as “technical challenges.”

However, the Mukuba international train is only operating once per week in each direction rather than twice a week as it did previously, departing Dar es Salaam at 15.50 on Fridays and returning from Kapria Mposhi at 14.00 on Tuesdays.

The Mukuba operates as an express service between Kapiri Mposhi and Kasama and between Nakonde and Msolwa, and as a stopping service on the Kasama - Nakonde and Dar es Salaam - Msolwa sections to meet high demand where no parallel roads exist.

Tazara will continue to operate its Udzungwa stopping service twice per week between Kidatu and Makambako, in Tanzania, to cater for strong passenger demand between the Morogoro and Njombe regions.

Tazara says the new timetable is designed to:

  • optimise the utilisation of its limited fleet of coaches and locomotives where fleet availability remains constrained due to ageing equipment, maintenance requirements, and a phased rehabilitation programme
  • refocus passenger services to strengthen core regional and cross-border routes
  • restore cross-border passenger connectivity in support of regional trade, tourism, and social interaction, and
  • improve reliability through a harmonised operating schedule that balances express and stopping services to meet demand.

Tazara’s managing director and CEO, Bruno Ching’andu, acknowledged in late December that the railway had faced operational challenges in 2025. “This has been a difficult year operationally, marked by infrastructure limitations and rolling stock constraints that affected service reliability,” he said.

However, Ching’andu confirmed that following the official launch of Tazara’s rehabilitation programme in November 2025, its partner China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has started to mobilise personnel and equipment. “Engineering teams are currently on the ground undertaking detailed infrastructure audits of the line,” he said. “These assessments are focused on determining the condition of the track, bridges, culverts, signalling and related assets to prioritise rehabilitation works.”