Truck Carriers

The road network is made up of about 15,450 km.

The types of truck carriers and general vehicle configurations are given in figure 2.2.1. The configurations and associated designations are used in design and running cost calculations.

The carriers have tried to form associations. The Road Transport Operators Association (RTOA) has national membership in the country. With regard to classification, it is difficult to determine the classes of the truck carriers.

Figure 2.2.1 Vehicle types and designation based on axle arrangement

Railway Carriers

The railway network in Malawi is about 815 km and is shown in figure 2.1. The external railway network used by the Eastern and Central African Railways is shown in figure 2.3.

Locomotive The Central and Eastern African Railways Malawi Limited (CEAR) operates 19 Bombardier MLW mainline locomotives manufactured in Canada in the early nineteen eighties (early 1980s) and 5 CMI shunting locomotives manufactured in Belgium in the late nineteen eighties (late 1980s).

Wagons The company has 400 wagons of various types consisting of covered wagons, high sided and low sided open wagons, container flats, fuel tank wagons, cattle wagons, hopper wagons, car carrier wagons and miscellaneous other wagon types all in fair condition although of generally old British or South African make. Vacuum brake system is used although there were plans to convert to compressed air brakes in future as per Union of African Railways (UAR) recommendations. However this proposal has generally been considered unnecessary on account the light traffic and low speed of trains on this railway system. The centre buffing AAR type coupling system common in southern and eastern Africa is used on all rolling stock and motive power equipment.

Coaches CEAR Ltd has about 30 passenger coaches.

Recovery Cranes The Company has one 45 tonne crane old type and a100 tonne Caillard crane.

Maintenance and Inspection Trolleys CEAR Ltd. has about 10 trolleys for track inspection and maintenance in serviceable condition. They are mostly of Wickham type manufactured in Britain, South Africa and Malawi.

Air Carriers

Air Malawi has three aircrafts namely, a Boeing 737300, an ATR 42 and a Cessna. The Cessna was recently involved in an accident and may not get back to the sky.
The 737300 aircraft bought in 1990.

Water Carriers

Malawi Lake Services has six cargo vessels and two passenger vessels. The capacity of each vessel is given in table 2.2.4.

Table 2.2.4 Malawi Lake Services Vessels

Vessel Type and Name		Number of Passengers	Cargo carried (Tonnes)
Passenger	MV Mtendere	420	45
	Illala	360	100
Cargo	MV Katundu	-	750
	Nkwazi	-	200
	Karonga	-	300
	Vipya Tag	-	600
	Mcheni	-	60
Tanker	Ufulu	-	300