CEAR relaunches Limbe-Nkaya railway line

Central East Africa Railways (CEAR) says last year it lost K1.4 billion through rail washaways as a result of heavy flooding in the country and has re-launched the Limbe-Nkaya railway line which was one of the routes affected. [caption id="attachment_100445" align="alignright" width="600"] Cear Managing Director Hendry Chimwaza -Photo Jeromy Kadewere[/caption] [caption id="attachment_100446" align="alignright" width="600"] CEAR servicing its train - Photo Jeromy Kadewere[/caption] Hendry Chimwaza, chief executive officer of CEAR said his company had to suspend train services in some areas. "We had to suspend our train services for six months. This a long time in business," said Chimwaza. He was speaking recently during the relaunching of Limbe Nkaya railway after its rehabilitation. Chris Kang'ombe, principal secretary in the ministry of Trade and Industry welcomed the rehabilitation of the rail line, saying this will greatly improve rural transportation. CEAR is currently working with Zambia Railways Limited in a bit to cut high transportation costs as both Malawi and Zambia are landlocked. Cear is the only operator of rail transport services in Malawi and currently operates on Blantyre to Balaka, Liwonde via Nayuchi to Nacala in Mozambique, Blantyre to Lilongwe via Balaka and Salima routes.