The Moçâmedes Railway (CFM) incurred a loss of approximately 160 million Kwanzas (about $190,704) during a 31-day suspension of operations on the Huíla/Cuando Cubango section due to severe rains that washed away two hydraulic crossings.
The flooding on February 3rd and 4th significantly damaged the railway infrastructure, destroying the hydraulic passages between the towns of Chanja and Olivença.
Repairs, which took a month to complete, cost the public company based in Lubango around 100 million Kwanzas ($119,190), as revealed by its commercial director, Carlos Roll.
In an interview with ANGOP, Roll emphasized that the company is now focused on recovering its losses with the resumption of passenger and freight train services starting today, Thursday.
He noted that there is a daily train running between Lubango and Menongue, and another serving the branch line to the municipality of Jamba, extending from the commune of Dongo to Tchamutete.
Roll also highlighted that farmers along the railway network now have the opportunity to transport their products as the harvest season approaches, with CFM fully operational to serve the community throughout the line.
According to its weekly schedule, CFM offers two daily freight trains from Lubango, where its headquarters are located, to Namibe.
Additionally, there are six passenger train services covering a total route of 806 kilometers, passing through 56 stations in the provinces of Namibe, Huíla, and Cuando-Cubango.
