National Railways of Zimbabwe

On April 1, 1947 Rhodesia Railways Ltd (RR) becomes state-owned, retaining the name Rhodesia Railways.[2]

The route from Plumtree (Zimbabwe) to Mafikeng (South Africa), crossing Botswana (which was under concession to the RR), was sold to South African Railways in December 1959.[2]

The Zambia Railway Board (now Zambia Railways-ZR) was founded and the route network in Zambia was disbanded on 1 July 1967.[3] On the same date, the Harare-Mutare section of the Beira-Bulawayo railway was handed over to the Mozambique Ports and Railways administration.[2]

Rhodesia Railways was a heavy user of the Garratt locomotive. In June 1976, 100 of its 109 steam locomotives were Garratts. For operational purposes, Rhodesia Railways was divided into two areas: those lines north-east of Gwelo (now Gweru) fell into the Eastern Area, with all other lines in the Southern Area.[4]

Opening of the railway to Umtali in 1899

On July 1, 1979, the RR became the Zimbabwe Rhodesian Railways, and the following year (May 1), it gained its current name, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).[2]

In 1983, the electrification of a 305 km section between Harare and Dabuka began. The first electric convoy circulated on October 22, 1983, with the completion of works taking place two years later.[5]

In 1987, the NRZ renounced ownership of Botswana's interior lines (an act left over from the colonial period), giving rise to that country's state-owned railway, the Botswana Railways.[5]

In 1996, the government of Zimbabwe established a privatized concession to New Limpopo Projects Investments Ltd (NLPI) to build a new link between Bulawayo and Beitbridge, thus providing a more direct rail link with South Africa. NLPI founded Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway Ltd to operate the new link. The line opened on July 15, 1999.[5]

In 1997, the deregulation of the transport industry took place, removing the monopoly of the sector held by NRZ,[5] a fact that led the company to enter into deep decline and accumulate increasing losses.

The NRZ has suffered from the general decline of the country's economy. Neglect of maintenance, lacking spare parts, and overdue replacement of equipment have led to a situation were only part of the network is in good condition and equipment problems have led to reduced service. Steam locomotives have been reintroduced since 2004 as coal is in relatively good supply, while diesel must be imported and electricity shortages are common. Further, the company is seriously indebted, making it impossible to solve this situation without external help.[6] Goods transport has declined, from 18 million tonnes in 1998 to 2 million tonnes in 2010.[7]

In 2019, it was reported that train drivers were resorting to using WhatsApp messages to communicate, due to the unreliability of signalling and control systems. At this time ZNR operated around 100 locomotives and a 'few hundred' carriages.[8]

A diesel hauled service, near Gweru. Note the electrical overhead catenary, no longer in use. Photo from 1990.

By 2009, the 313km electrified section between Harare and Gweru/Dabuka was inoperable due to years of maintenance neglect and theft of overhead line equipment. Diesel locomotives now operate on the route.[9]

Between 2001 and 2006 a commuter rail service operated in Harare and Bulawayo. Three lines were operated in Harare and two in Bulawayo. They were nicknamed 'Freedom Trains.[10]

Between May and July 2017, a bidding process for the recapitalization/privatization of the company was initiated. Six companies successfully submitted their proposals. The winner of the process was the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG), a consortium of Zimbabwean and South African companies. Subsequently, the bid was canceled due to irregularities.[11]

In November 2018 a commuter service was revived in Bulawayo with one line.[8]

In 2021, commuter rail service in Harare was started in cooperation with ZUPCO, the local bus company, operating three routes to Tynwald, Mufakose and Ruwa.[12] In November 2022, approximately a year after being introduced, they were suspended again due to a payment dispute with ZUPCO.[13]

In 2020, all passenger services were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of May 2023, passenger services have not been reintroduced. NRZ cites the age and state of repair of passenger carriages, as well as speed restrictions on some sections of track as the reason for the continued suspension, although are looking to reindroduce service at some point in the future.[12]

Steam locomotives are still used in Zimbabwe; they have proven so popular with tourists that there are plans to refurbish several more steam locomotives.[15] However, funding is constrained, and diesel-hauled freight transport is a higher priority.[16] Some steam train excursions operate as of 2023 in the vicinity of Victoria Falls.