The European Union (EU) has shown the readiness to offer further assistance to the railway industry in Zambia and strengthen efforts to re-model and restore the railway system in the nation. This follows the 50 million grant that was received in 2025, which is currently being utilized to modernize major sections of the Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) network. ZRL Managing Director Cuthbert Malindi says that the ongoing interest of the EU indicates that there is increasing confidence among the EU in the push by Zambia to restore its railway network and enhance its position within regional trade and economic growth.
First, €50 million is made available through the Railway Sector Support Programme, which is funded by the EU and is aimed at revamping critical infrastructure (rehabilitation of tracks and the installation of new signaling equipment). Miles of it are also concentrated along the Livingstone-Ndola corridor, which is one of the most significant rail routes in the country. This route provides an interlinking of large mining and industrial regions and is part of the Lobito Corridor, which is strategic, linking Zambia to the international markets via Angola. It is hoped that the upgrading of this route will enhance efficiency and decrease transit time and cost of transporting goods, and make the Zambian exports more competitive.
Malindi observed that the sign of additional EU assistance is timely, given the fact that Zambia Railways is currently undergoing several major reforms that are expected to help it regain its efficiency in its operations. The railway industry has been grappling with archaic infrastructures, a lack of proper investment, and rigid competition with road transport over the years. Nevertheless, there are positive signs of a shift in this trend, and infrastructure investment and strategic alliances have allowed it to rebrand rail as a fast and economical form of transport.
In order to be able to supplement the EU grant, Zambia Railways is also in the process of raising extra funding through development finance institutions and the involvement of players in the private sector. The firm is aiming for approximately 60 million to boost the rehabilitation project and service delivery. This strategy emphasizes the value of public-private collaboration in filling financing gaps and guaranteeing the sustainability of the railway industry in the long term.
Besides the upgrading of the infrastructure, there are intentions to upgrade the locomotive fleet. The Zambia Railways has embarked on a project to modernize locomotives and ensure it caters to the increasing demand for freight services. It is estimated that the move will help to improve reliability, improve hauling capacity, and contribute to the growing quantity of cargo that is transported on major regional routes.
Further development of Zambia is associated with the target of making it a transport and logistics hub in the region, which is further facilitated by its continued support by the EU. Enhancing the railway infrastructure will contribute to shifting the cargo off the highways and into railway lines, decreasing the number of people using highways, decreasing the expenses on maintenance, and decreasing the number of carbon emissions. It will also increase the levels of trade across borders as it will offer a more efficient and cheaper mode of transport of goods within Southern Africa.
With the continued growth of partnership between Zambia and the EU, the rehabilitation of Zambia Railways is likely to open new economic opportunities and spur sustainable growth. The railway industry will become the core of improving the connection network with constant investments and the reformation of policies, contributing to trade and the long-term development plan of Zambia.
