page_title: National Railways of Zimbabwe
section_title: Operations
hierarchical_section_title: National Railways of Zimbabwe / Operations
caption_attribution_description: Opening of the railroad to Umtali
context_page_description: The National Railways of Zimbabwe is the parastatal railway of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean railway system was largely constructed during the time of British colonial rule and was called Rhodesia Railways until 1980. Segments of its systems were intended to be part of the Cape to Cairo Railway.
context_section_description: NRZ operates about 4,225 km (2,600 miles) of railway lines, all of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) providing  passenger  and freight services.  The gauge is standard for all of southern Africa. NRZ has an important transit function in the southern part of Africa and is well linked with neighboring countries: toward the north, at Victoria Falls the system links to the Zambia Railways, crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge.  Toward the Indian ocean the system links to the Beira Railroad Corporation in Mozambique. A second line toward Mozambique reaches Maputo.  To the west, a connecting line link ups to Botswana Railways to reach South Africa, eventually reaching Durban and Cape Town. A direct line to South Africa from Bulawayo was opened in 1999 by the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway. The 313 km (194-mile) Gweru-Harare section is electrified at 25 kV AC. The section was extensively vandalised and the copper cables stolen. The line is no longer functional.
caption: Opening of the railway to Umtali in 1899
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