Zambia Railways

What Zambia Railways does

Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) is a state-owned railway operator incorporated in 1982 and mandated under the Railways Act of 1984 to operate both rail passenger and freight trains in Zambia. ZRL is wholly owned by the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The company operates a rail network spanning approximately 1,200 km from Victoria Falls Bridge (Zimbabwe border) to Sakania (DRC border), including the Copperbelt, with main operations domain from Mulobezi to Chililabombwe and Chipata to Mchinji. Through bilateral and multilateral agreements with seven neighboring railway administrations (SNCC, NRZ, TAZARA, TFR, CEAR, CDN, BBR), ZRL connects to nearly all SADC ports and provides import, local, export, and transit rail transportation services.

The company operates four business units: Freight Services (the primary revenue contributor, offering bulk rail transportation with up to 1,200 tons per train capacity across various wagon types for copper, coal, maize, fertilizer, and other commodities), Passenger Services (Business, Sleeper, Standard, and Economy classes on Ordinary, Commuter, and Mixed trains), Real Estate Services (monetization of ZRL's land and building portfolio along the railway corridor), and Engineering Services (manufacturing and repair at Kabwe Main Workshops for external clients). Following repossession from a nine-year concession in 2012, the government recapitalized ZRL with US$120 million in Eurobond funding in 2013, enabling track rehabilitation, procurement of Duomatic tamping machines, and a partnership with SMH Rail of Malaysia for locomotive remanufacturing. Train speeds improved from 15 km/h to over 40 km/h, with derailments significantly reduced in tamped sections.

ZRL's go-to-market is primarily sales-led B2B targeting large cargo clients in mining, agriculture, and energy through direct engagement at railway stations, supplemented by channel partnerships with neighboring railway administrations for cross-border freight and event-based marketing at trade fairs (ZITF, CPACS, CAMINEX, SARA). Distribution is anchored by physical station infrastructure across six cities (Kabwe HQ, Lusaka, Livingstone, Kitwe, Ndola, Chipata), private sidings for major mining customers, and intermodal road-rail partnerships. The company also enables private train operations where customers run their own rolling stock on the ZRL network. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but rates are posted at stations and adjusted periodically; a February 2024 adjustment raised passenger fares by approximately 26% and parcel rates by approximately 31%. Rail currently holds only 5% of Zambia's transport market versus 95% for road, but recent North-South Corridor business has grown 60% and the government is pursuing a Statutory Instrument to compel heavy and bulk cargo onto rail.

Name

Zambia Railways

Legal name

Zambia Railways Limited

Website

https://zrl.com.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Zambia Railways Limited is a state-owned railway operator providing bulk freight, passenger, real estate, and engineering services across a ~1,200 km network connecting Zambia to SADC ports, primarily serving mining, agricultural, and energy enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rail Transportation Services

NAICS

Short Line Railroads (482112), Rail Transportation (482), Line-Haul Railroads (482111)

SIC

Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011), Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments (4013)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Commodity Railroads (Coal/Grain/Ore/Aggregates) (TLADACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Unit Train & Dedicated Contract Rail Services (TLADACAK), Cross-Border Rail Freight Operators (International Corridors) (TLADACAL), Agricultural Products Rail Operators (Grain/Fertilizer) (TLADACAH), Rail Terminal Switching, Shunting & Yard Locomotive Services (TLAJAFAF)

Keywords

• Freight rail transport
• Passenger rail services
• Railway logistics
• Mining freight haulage
• Rail infrastructure services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kabwe

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Freight Services: Primary revenue contributor. Bulk rail freight transportation with haulage capacity of up to 1,200 tons per train. Provides import, local, export, and transit rail transportation services. Services include various wagon types for different commodities (containerized, closed, tank, tipping). Strategic partnerships enable end-to-end logistics for local traffic.
2. Passenger Services: Rail passenger transportation across multiple service classes (Business, Sleeper, Standard, Economy). Also includes courier and parcel delivery services. Operates ordinary trains between Livingstone and Kitwe, commuter trains in Lusaka (Lilayi and Ngwereri), and mixed trains between Livingstone and Mulobezi.
3. Real Estates: Revenue generation through leasing, partnerships, and selective sale of ZRL-owned land and buildings along the railway corridor. The company has a vast land portfolio susceptible to encroachment and is seeking financing through real estate monetization.
4. Engineering Services: Revenue from providing engineering services at Kabwe Main Workshops to external clients including blacksmithing, metal forging, machining, locomotive and wagon overhaul and repair. Services to clients such as Mazabuka Sugar Estates, mining companies, and ZAMPALM Project in Mansa. Items manufactured include Chaka hoes, hammers, water tanks, steel chairs, gates, window frames, and agricultural implements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zambia Railways Limited operates the national railway network of Zambia, providing freight rail haulage services primarily to the mining, agricultural, and energy sectors, as well as passenger rail transportation services to the general public. The company also offers ancillary services including engineering services, real estate, and courier operations to support its rail business.

Product overview

Zambia Railways Limited operates as a state-owned railway company offering an integrated portfolio of rail transportation services. The core offerings include Freight Services (bulk rail cargo transportation with various wagon types), Passenger Services (multiple train types with different service classes), Courier Service (domestic parcels delivery), and Engineering Services (manufacturing and repair at Kabwe Main Workshops). Supporting services include Real Estate management and Haul Power (locomotive traction). The company maintains a network of approximately 1,200 km from Victoria Falls Bridge to Sakania, connecting to SADC region ports, providing import, local, export, and transit rail transportation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freight Rail Transport Bulk haulage of minerals, agricultural products, and industrial goods across Zambia's rail network, primarily serving mining, agricultural, and energy sector customers.
• Passenger Rail Services Intercity passenger train transportation connecting key cities and towns across Zambia, serving individual travelers and the general public.
• Courier Services Parcel and courier delivery services leveraging Zambia Railways' transport network to provide logistics solutions to customers.
• Engineering Services Railway engineering services supporting infrastructure maintenance and operations, provided to internal operations and external clients.
• Real Estate Services Real estate holdings and property services related to Zambia Railways' stations, depots, and land assets across the country.

Quantifiable outcome

• Train speeds improved from 15 km/h to over 40 km/h following rehabilitation program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Central East African Railways (CEAR) / Nacala LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2026MoU signed to operationalize the Chipata-Mchinji railway line, reviving connectivity to the Nacala Corridor. The partnership links Zambia to the Port of Nacala in Mozambique, enabling initial movement of 100,000+ metric tons per month. Aims to boost trade in fuel, fertilizer, copper, coal, wheat, and other commodities while strengthening regional integration. The signing was witnessed by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and SARA.
• Sunline International LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2024Sunline invested over US$3 million in constructing a railway spur in Chambishi, enabling coal transportation. Currently moving 8,000 metric tons per month with a target to increase to 15,000 metric tons per month. The partnership created local jobs and generates revenue for ZRL and ZRA.
• Beitbridge Bulawayo Railways (BBR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAreas of cooperation identified to improve capacity and smooth railway operations between Zambia and Zimbabwe. BBR is a full-fledged private railway company incorporated in Zimbabwe in 1997, focused on bulk cargo movement. BBR also provides locomotives to ZRL under a locomotive provision partnership aimed at increasing rolling stock capacity.
• Société nationale des Chemins de fer du Congo (SNCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral relations for smooth flow of exports, imports, and transits between DRC and Zambia. Enables ZRL to serve the large DR Congo market and provides strategic positioning for regional railway operations.
• National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing bilateral relations for cross-border railway operations. NRZ partnership facilitates transit through Zimbabwe to South Africa and other southern African destinations. Joint operations include transportation of bagged maize from Tanzania to Zimbabwe.
• TAZARA (Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral relations enabling rail connectivity to Tanzania and eastern Africa. Partnership facilitates cross-border cargo movement and regional trade corridors.
• Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) - South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral relations for connectivity to South Africa and southern African destinations through the North-South Corridor. ZRL can access additional wagons from TFR if needed.
• Caminhos De Ferro De Mozambique (CFM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to explore rail-road intermodal arrangements enabling cargo movement to and from the Port of Beira in Mozambique. ZRL last moved significant traffic (fertilizer) from Beira in 2014 and is seeking to resume and sustain operations.
• National Railways of Malawi / Chemin de fer du Malawi (CDN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral relations for connectivity through Malawi, relevant to the Nacala Corridor and Chipata-Mchinji railway line operations.
• Port of Beira (Mozambique)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZRL targeting resumption of movements to/from Port of Beira in Mozambique. Port has completed expansion of bulk material terminal (handling increased from 30,000 to 70,000 tons) and received first vessel with 27,500 tons of bulk sulphur. Rail-road intermodal options being explored.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Ethiopian Railway Corporation: Ethiopia's state-owned railway operator with newly-built electrified network focused on freight and passenger services. Comparable as an African state-owned railway operator undergoing recapitalization and modernization, though serving a different geography than ZRL's SADC footprint.
• Kenya Railways Corporation: Kenya's national railway operator focused on both freight and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) operations. While primarily East African and not directly connected to ZRL's network, KRC is comparable as an African state-owned railway operator pursuing modernization and cross-border connectivity.

Direct peers

• TAZARA (Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority): Direct peer operating the Tanzania-Zambia railway with similar cross-border mandate. TAZARA provides parallel rail connectivity between Zambia and Tanzania, and the two railways have partnered on multi-country freight movements including the 17,000-tonne maize shipment from Tanzania to Zimbabwe.
• Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM): Mozambique's national railway operating the Beira and Maputo corridors. CFM is a direct peer providing ZRL's access to Port of Beira, with active partnership discussions on rail-road intermodal for cargo movement. Comparable in scale as a regional African railway with port connectivity.
• Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC): Tanzania's national railway operator providing regional rail services. TRC and TAZARA together connect to ZRL via the Tanzanian border, and TRC's operations parallel TAZARA on east-west flows. Comparable as a state-owned East African railway operator.
• SNCC (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer du Congo): DRC's national railway operator with bilateral cooperation covering Zambia-DRC traffic via Sakania border. SNCC provides the cross-border link for Zambian copper exports into the DRC market and is a key ZRL partner for serving the Congolese market.
• National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ): Zimbabwe's national railway operator with bilateral partnership relations with ZRL. NRZ operates the Zimbabwean segment of the North-South Corridor and Beira Corridor, directly connecting to ZRL's network at Victoria Falls Bridge. Joint operations on cross-border freight make it a natural direct peer.
• Beitbridge Bulawayo Railways (BBR): Private Zimbabwean railway operator focused on bulk cargo movement, and partner/peer to ZRL. BBR provides locomotives to ZRL under partnership while operating overlapping cross-border freight traffic, making it both a collaborator and competing carrier on the Zimbabwe corridor.

Broad incumbents

• Transnet Freight Rail: South Africa's national freight rail operator and the dominant SADC rail incumbent. TFR operates a much larger network and provides locomotives to ZRL under partnership. Comparable as a regional rail freight operator sharing cross-border freight flows with ZRL on the North-South Corridor.

Emerging players

• Central East African Railways (CEAR) / Nacala Logistics: Operates the Nacala Corridor in Mozambique including the recently-rehabilitated railway linking to the Port of Nacala. CEAR is an emerging private-sector rail operator and ZRL's Nacala Corridor partner under the April 2026 MoU for the Chipata-Mchinji line, with comparable regional freight focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ZRailways
• Xx.com/ZRailways

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zambia Railways