TAZARA cross-border passenger service returns on Mukuba

The TAZARA cross-border passenger service has returned, restoring passenger travel between Tanzania and Zambia on one of the region’s most vital rail links. The restart is expected to support regional mobility across Southern and Eastern Africa by improving regional connectivity and reinforcing the corridor’s role in trade and tourism.

TAZARA restarted passenger operations between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi on February 10, 2026, as reported by Railway Supply. The route had been suspended in June 2024 after operational challenges, including an aging fleet and persistent maintenance issues. With the relaunch, the Mukuba train service is again operating on the 1,860-kilometre rail corridor that links Tanzania’s Indian Ocean port with Zambia’s central region. It provides an overland connection between landlocked Zambia and Tanzania’s deep-water ports.

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Why the Tanzania–Zambia Railway (TAZARA) restoration matters?

Also, the suspension disrupted essential transport for communities that depended on the railway for travel, while trade and tourism were also affected. After the pause, TAZARA carried out a comprehensive overhaul of its passenger operations. The work reshaped services to match available resources, while continuing to support towns and districts along the line. The restoration is presented as a reaffirmation of the operator’s founding mission: promoting regional mobility, trade, and people-to-people exchanges on this strategic corridor.

TAZARA cross-border passenger service schedule and Mukuba operations

As part of the restart, TAZARA has positioned the Mukuba train as the central long-distance service on the Dar es Salaam to New Kapiri Mposhi route. To improve reliability, the operator has focused limited resources on this core passenger service. Secondary and overlapping services along the line have been scaled back.

The Mukuba now runs once a week in both directions, departing New Kapiri Mposhi every Tuesday afternoon and leaving Dar es Salaam every Friday evening, in line with information published by TAZARA. Meanwhile, service patterns vary by region. Between New Kapiri Mposhi and Kasama in Zambia, and between Nakonde and Msolwa in Tanzania, it runs with fewer stops. At the same time, in rural sections with fewer alternatives it calls at numerous stations to connect smaller communities, as described by Railway Gazette International.

Udzungwa local train service and access to tourism and communities

In addition to the cross-border restart, TAZARA has also reintroduced the Udzungwa local train service in southern Tanzania. Separately, the Udzungwa service resumed on February 12, 2026, and runs twice a week between Kidatu and Makambako. It links communities in the Morogoro and Njombe regions to the wider TAZARA network.

In areas where road travel can be slow, costly, or unreliable—especially during the rainy season—the Udzungwa train helps residents reach schools, clinics, and markets. It also supports the transport of goods and regional trade. The service provides access to Udzungwa Mountains National Park and nearby nature reserves, while the Mukuba remains a key option for overland travel and tourism connections along the corridor. These connections include routes associated with Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains, Ruaha National Park, and Zambia’s northern highlands.

Together, the Mukuba train service and the Udzungwa local train service are positioned as practical steps in strengthening regional connectivity in Southern and Eastern Africa. They support both long-distance travelers and local passengers, while keeping the Tanzania–Zambia Railway (TAZARA) active across major centers, mining hubs, and rural districts.

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