The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), formerly the larger part of Rhodesia Railways (RR), is a state-owned enterprise that operates the country's national railway system; its headquarters are in Bulawayo. It was established in 1893 and is governed by an Act of Parliament.

At the same time, on 13 April 1897, the Mashonaland Railway Company (MRC) was founded. On 1 March 1905 the small Ayrshire Gold Mine & Lomangundi Railway Company — which had been founded in 1900 — merged with MRC. A similar event would occur with the Beira & Mashonaland Railway (also founded in 1900), which merged on 1 October 1927 with the MRC. Finally, MRC itself would be absorbed by Rhodesia Railways Ltd on 31 March 1937. By 1965 it had 427 locomotives, 11,000 coaches and wagons, and 29,000 employees and carried over 4,000,000 passengers per year.

Nationalisation of Rhodesia Railways

On 1 April 1947 Rhodesia Railways Ltd (RR) became owned by the Southern Rhodesian government and continued to operate in that territory and Northern Rhodesia and Bechuanaland as well, retaining the name Rhodesia Railways. The railways in Nyasaland remained separate.

Changes to the Rhodesia Railways network

Rhodesia Railways operated the Beira Railway from the Mozambique border to Beira until 6 April 1949 when it was purchased by the Portuguese colonial government.

In December 1959, RR sold the Mafeking–Ramatlhabama section of its southernmost line to South African Railways.

Rhodesia Railways 1967–1979

The name Rhodesia Railways continued to be used for the network in the former Southern Rhodesia, now just 'Rhodesia', and for the line through Botswana.

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 fell into the Eastern Area, with all other lines in the Southern Area.right|thumb|Opening of the railway to Umtali in 1899|300 px

Founding of NRZ

On 1 July 1979 when Rhodesia changed its name to 'Zimbabwe Rhodesia' the Railway technically became the 'Zimbabwe Rhodesian Railways' for less than a year. On 1 May the following year after the Republic of Zimbabwe came into being, it gained its current name, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).

! !! Bulawayo !! Gwelo !! Total

|-

| align="left" | 12th class (4-8-2) || 5 || 1 || 6

|-

| align="left" | 14A class (2-6-2+2-6-2) || 7 || 6 || 13

|-

| align="left" | 15th class (4-6-4+4-6-4) || 52 || 0 || 52

|-

| align="left" | 16A class (2-8-2+2-8-2) || 8 || 9 || 17

|-

| align="left" | 19th class (4-8-2) || 3 || 0 || 3

|-

| align="left" | 20th class (4-8-2+2-8-4) || 18 || 0 || 18

|-

| Total || 93 || 16 || 109

|}

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

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. Goods transport has declined, from 18 million tonnes in 1998 to 2 million tonnes in 2010.

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 NRZ operated around 100 locomotives and a 'few hundred' carriages.

Recent history and recapitalisation

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.

Between May and July 2017, a bidding process for the recapitalisation/privatisation 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 cancelled due to irregularities.

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

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. In November 2022, approximately a year after being introduced, they were suspended again due to a payment dispute with ZUPCO.

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 reintroduce services at some point in the future.

Prior to 2020, the following passenger services were operated:

  • Harare-Bulawayo
  • Harare-Mutare
  • Bulawayo-Victoria Falls
  • Bulawayo-Chiredzi
  • Bulawayo-Chicualacuala

thumb|Steam train crossing Victoria Falls Bridge in 1992.

Steam

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

Major accidents

  • On 27 August 2006 more than 60 people were killed in a head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train south of Victoria Falls.
  • On 3 June 2006 five fatalities occurred in the Ngungumbane rail crash.
  • On 1 February 2003 40 people died in the Dete train crash.

Major lines and stations

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Line !! Stations !! Notes

|-

| Victoria Falls – Plumtree

||

Victoria Falls – Bulawayo section

  • Victoria Falls
  • Thomson Junction
  • Hwange
  • Dete
  • Bulawayo

Bulawayo – Plumtree section

  • Bulawayo
  • Marula
  • Plumtree, border to Francistown, Botswana

|| Part of Cape to Cairo Railway<br>Link from Victoria Falls to Zambia Railways, Zambia.<br>The charge was $60 for the sleeper class, $50 for the standard class and $40 for the economy class. Part of the line is in Botswana<br>Connects further to Mahikeng, South Africa.<br>

In 1911 Rhodesia Railways was granted a special agreement to preserve its rights of access under the Tati Concessions Land Act, which formally annexed a former territory of Matabeleland, an area including Francistown, to the Bechuanaland Protectorate.

|-

| Beira–Bulawayo railway

||

Bulawayo – Harare section

  • Bulawayo
  • Somabhula
  • Mbizi
  • Chiredzi
  • Sango
  • Chicualacuala
  • Gweru
  • Masvingo
  • Kwekwe
  • Kadoma
  • Chegutu
  • Harare

Harare – Mutare section

  • Marondera
  • Macheke
  • Rusape
  • Nyazura
  • Mutare,

||Link from Mutare to Port of Beira, Mozambique.<br/>The Harare-Mutare route was the busiest route. The sleeper class was $40, whilst the standard class is $30 and the economy class $25.