Another cross 'hard' border train service stopping

[RT4038]

"Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority Suspends Passenger Train Operations​

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) regrets to announce the suspension of passenger train operations, effective from 18 June 2024, until further notice.
This suspension has been necessitated by various operational challenges that the authority is facing."

Railways Africa NewsXpress: Week 24:2024 - Railways Africa Magazine

Bite-size takeaways

www.railways.africa

They are getting fewer and fewer. This was one where passports were checked whilst in transit. Ride them while you can, almost all gone!

 

[geoffk]

Outside Europe, cross-border rail passenger services must be few and far between. The only one I've used was from Francistown, Botswana to Bulawayo. My notes just say "we had an extended wait at the border station of Plumtree (Zim) for immigration formalities and loco change". This was in 2010. Indeed cross-border travel is sometimes difficult in Europe, e.g. between Italy and Slovenia.

 

[dutchflyer]

The latest new ones (of which I am aware) are in ASEAN=South East Asia and have succeeded in linking Laos-previously even without those things on rails:
the first to open was by the Thai SRT-a short spur from NongKhai, its former terminus, on the Maekong river, via a bridge to a far-away suburb of the capital Vientiane. Thats just 2 short shuttle trains/day-but recently-or about to- lengthened furhter into but still suburban VTE.
On its north side Laos has sold its soul to the Chinese and these have in the usual record time built a -single track!-hi-speed line from their border as far as VTE again-but somewhere in suburban north side=opposite from the Thai side. It starts from Kunming in Yunnan.
The THai have also done more for their part of the work and have made the extension of its eastern line -ending at the small town of AranyaPrathet to the border with Cambodia. But the KHmer are not that fast and have even shortened the very few services over rails in old state from Pnom Penh-they never have reached that border from their side.
But there is a casualty too: on its south side the former 1/day through sleeper train, much liked by both bekpek-tourists and rail-aficionados-from Bangkok to the opposite side of Penang island (Butterworth) now ends at exactly the border station-the Malays have upgraded and electrified their part-there is still a fairly easy connection
JUst a day or 2 ago read about a possible re-instate of a direct China-Kazakstan link, suspended since covid and apparently now revived, but only for large prebooked groups around festivals or so
Direct China-Mongolia trains also are said to revive soon-or may have done already, but not (yet?) the all the large way Trans-Sib from Mockba.
In AFrica there are talks/plans to revive the direct train link TUNisia-ALgeria (May perhaps even been posted here as item a week or 2 ago)

 

[lachlan]

The latest new ones (of which I am aware) are in ASEAN=South East Asia and have succeeded in linking Laos-previously even without those things on rails:
the first to open was by the Thai SRT-a short spur from NongKhai, its former terminus, on the Maekong river, via a bridge to a far-away suburb of the capital Vientiane. Thats just 2 short shuttle trains/day-but recently-or about to- lengthened furhter into but still suburban VTE.
On its north side Laos has sold its soul to the Chinese and these have in the usual record time built a -single track!-hi-speed line from their border as far as VTE again-but somewhere in suburban north side=opposite from the Thai side. It starts from Kunming in Yunnan.
The THai have also done more for their part of the work and have made the extension of its eastern line -ending at the small town of AranyaPrathet to the border with Cambodia. But the KHmer are not that fast and have even shortened the very few services over rails in old state from Pnom Penh-they never have reached that border from their side.
But there is a casualty too: on its south side the former 1/day through sleeper train, much liked by both bekpek-tourists and rail-aficionados-from Bangkok to the opposite side of Penang island (Butterworth) now ends at exactly the border station-the Malays have upgraded and electrified their part-there is still a fairly easy connection
JUst a day or 2 ago read about a possible re-instate of a direct China-Kazakstan link, suspended since covid and apparently now revived, but only for large prebooked groups around festivals or so
Direct China-Mongolia trains also are said to revive soon-or may have done already, but not (yet?) the all the large way Trans-Sib from Mockba.
In AFrica there are talks/plans to revive the direct train link TUNisia-ALgeria (May perhaps even been posted here as item a week or 2 ago)

Talking of south east Asia there used to be Malaysian services into the centre of Singapore until the branch was cut back to the northern coast. There is now a shuttle service across the border. There is a new metro line under construction which will properly link into the MRT network and provide a more frequent service.

There was also a high speed railway planned from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur but unfortunately that appears to have been shelved.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Outside Europe, cross-border rail passenger services must be few and far between. The only one I've used was from Francistown, Botswana to Bulawayo. My notes just say "we had an extended wait at the border station of Plumtree (Zim) for immigration formalities and loco change". This was in 2010. Indeed cross-border travel is sometimes difficult in Europe, e.g. between Italy and Slovenia.

Years ago, when it was Yugoslavia (and there were western and eastern "blocs" etc, pre-EU etc), Italy-Yugo was, as I remember it, a doddle. As indeed were most international journeys within Europe. Yes, border formalities were required in many places, but the connectedness (in terms of the variety of routes, and the lack of fuss about "which company's train do you want?") was better than today.

 

[SandsofEss]

Re: the original post, this is very sad news. The Tazara has been on my bucket list for ages.

I recall watching a documentary on the BBC some years ago (possibly ‘African Railway’) that gave a glimpse into the challenges it faced.

An epic journey on characterful trains. I hope it's revived.

 

[stadler]

Now that this Tanzania to Zambia train has stopped does this mean there are no longer any cross border passenger trains on the entire continent of Africa any more? I am just thinking about all the other railway lines across borders in Africa and none of them seem to have passengers trains any more either?

 

[nwales58]

Now that this Tanzania to Zambia train has stopped does this mean there are no longer any cross border passenger trains on the entire continent of Africa any more?

Rovos.

 

[RT4038]

Rovos.

That is not a normal passenger train service though. However, the Dire Dawa-Djibouti passenger train does.

Re: the original post, this is very sad news. The Tazara has been on my bucket list for ages.

I recall watching a documentary on the BBC some years ago (possibly ‘African Railway’) that gave a glimpse into the challenges it faced.

An epic journey on characterful trains. I hope it's revived.

I was fortunate to ride it in 2011. A fine, exciting experience. Train East London-Jo'burg. Bus Jo'burg-Bulawayo. Train Bulawayo-Vic Falls. Walked across the bridge then taxi into Livingstone. Bus Livingstone-Lusaka-Kapiri Mposhi. Train KM-Dar es Salaam. Boat to Zanzibar. Hope to do train Livingstone-KM one day - it is still hanging on a weekly thread......

 

[StephenHunter]

Outside Europe, cross-border rail passenger services must be few and far between. The only one I've used was from Francistown, Botswana to Bulawayo. My notes just say "we had an extended wait at the border station of Plumtree (Zim) for immigration formalities and loco change". This was in 2010. Indeed cross-border travel is sometimes difficult in Europe, e.g. between Italy and Slovenia.

One big problem in Africa is a lot of places need visas to get into, which reduces intra-African tourism and has definitely hampered air travel there.

 

[RT4038]

Some good news - they appear to have resolved their issues for the time being

TAZARA – Reinstates Passenger Rail Services​

After concerted efforts to address operational challenges and a careful review of the current situation affecting the travelling public, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is pleased to announce that passenger trains will continue to operate within the respective regions between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya in Tanzania, and between Kapiri-Mposhi and Nakonde in Zambia. This operational plan is subject to further review, in due course, as TAZARA works to fully resolve the existing challenges and aims to normalise the interstate cross-border passenger train services.

Railways Africa NewsXpress: Week 25:2024 - Railways Africa Magazine

Bite-size takeaways

www.railways.africa

One big problem in Africa is a lot of places need visas to get into, which reduces intra-African tourism and has definitely hampered air travel there.

I doubt resolving the visa issue would make more than a speck of difference to most routes - the long distances, slow journey times, low intermediate population densities, road transport competition and political factors has basically rendered (other than suburban) ordinary passenger trains dead. Building higher speed lines (such as Mombasa-Nairobi) may get increased passenger traffic, but how will that traffic ever sustain the amortisation of the building cost? Hopeless.

 

[Wandering Pom]

Some good news - they appear to have resolved their issues for the time being

Judging by the news item, TAZARA is reinstating (continuing?) passenger services within each of the two countries - but that leaves a 50-60 mile gap, between Nakonde (Zambia) and Mbeya (Tanzania). So there's still no cross-border service.

 

[RT4038]

Judging by the news item, TAZARA is reinstating (continuing?) passenger services within each of the two countries - but that leaves a 50-60 mile gap, between Nakonde (Zambia) and Mbeya (Tanzania). So there's still no cross-border service.

Yes, but that is better than passenger trains ceasing completely. Hopefully through train service can resume. Presumably the issue is related to Immigration/Customs, or something railway system operational issue about crossing the border? or a political fallout?

 

[SandsofEss]

Now that this Tanzania to Zambia train has stopped does this mean there are no longer any cross border passenger trains on the entire continent of Africa any more? I am just thinking about all the other railway lines across borders in Africa and none of them seem to have passengers trains any more either?

As of this week, there is now an international service between Tunisia and Algeria. Thread here:

Tunisia-Algeria international service restored

Railways Africa is reporting passenger rail service has resumed this week between Tunis and Annaba, after a 30 year hiatus. Three times a week in each direction, with modern rolling stock. Full story here. Excellent news, especially given the recent thread lamenting the partial demise of the...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[RT4038]

This is good. Let's hope it last longer than the previous restarting (two months in 2003). Next for restoration of the through Morocco-Algeria service?

 

[AlastairFraser]

This is good. Let's hope it last longer than the previous restarting (two months in 2003). Next for restoration of the through Morocco-Algeria service?

I doubt that will come soon, given the border is still closed.
But to Algeria's credit, they are building their new high speed Oran - Sidi Bel Abbes - Tlemcen line all the way up to the border at Akid Abbes, near Maghnia.
So it will be easy to do in future, if the political situation changes.