A comprehensive feasibility study for rehabilitating Malawi’s central railway corridor — unlocking a key link in the cross-border route connecting Zambia to the Indian Ocean.

The Mchinji–Nkaya line runs 411 km across central Malawi, forming a critical east-west railway corridor that connects the Chipata–Malawi border crossing to the country’s main rail network. Its rehabilitation is part of a broader regional connectivity strategy linking Zambia to the ports of Nacala and Beira via the Malawi network.

Team Group conducted the full feasibility study in two phases. The inception phase covered revision of existing technical, economic and environmental documentation, assessment of current and future operational requirements, determination of infrastructure design criteria and a work methodology plan. The main feasibility phase delivered traffic forecast scenarios and revenue estimates, infrastructure assessment and cost estimates for rehabilitation and upgrading works, environmental screening, cost-benefit analysis to identify the optimal investment solution, a poverty impact analysis, and a climate change impact assessment.