[1] The construction of a railway line that was to run parallel to the valleys of the Incomati and Limpopo rivers began in the 1910s, initially connecting the city of Moamba, Magude and Ungubana, reaching the village of Xinavane.

[5][6] In May 1953, works on the line were resumed,[5] connecting Ungubana (the Ungubana-Xinavane link became a railway branch) to Chócue and Canicado, then heading north, reaching Chicualacuala (formerly Malvernia) in 1955.

[6] The second stage of the line was inaugurated at a ceremony held on 1 August 1955,[5] where Mozambican-Portuguese and Nyasaland-British colonial authorities were present.

[7] In the 1960s the government of Rhodesia completed the extension of the railway from Chicualacuala/Nyangambe, passing through Rutenga, until reaching the Somabhula junction station.

[3] After the reopening, it changed its route definitively, starting from Maputo and not from Moamba, going directly to Manhiça and Chócue;[2] however, they have been operating well below cargo capacity, due to weak demand from Zimbabwe and other neighboring countries.