$2bn needed to electrify rail network

This comes after revelations that some of the wagons and locomotives in use now have reached the end of their lifespan.
In an interview after touring the five coal-mining companies in Hwange yesterday, NRZ general manager, Retired Air Commodore Mike Karakadzai said his company wanted to electrify the Dabuka-Bulawayo route so that electric locomotives can be used.
He added that the $2 billion would go a long way in phasing out the old equipment, that includes locomotives, rolling stock, passenger coaches and installing state of the art signals and telecommunications.
“The locomotives, rolling stock, and the wagons we use, the passenger service coaches for inter-city trains, freedom trains and all services have outlived useful life. There is need for recapitalisation of the signals and telecommunications, electrification of the Dabuka-Bulawayo line.
“The wagons have reached their lifespan of 40 years and so I guess that we need about $2 bilion to carry out all the projects,” he said.
Rtd Air Comm Karakadzai said the replacement of the equipment would be done in phases.
“This is because we do not want to see a situation where all the equipment exceeds its lifespan at the same time. So the normal way would be to split the process in batches.”
He said there were some potential investors and banking institutions which they were in consultations with for the recapitalisation programme.
Rtd Air Comm Karakadzai said there were also a number of initiatives his company was working on.
“Some are willing to work with us and at the moment we are in the consultation process. I will not mention the investors now,” he said.
He also said the Government had released $20 million for the renewal of the speed restrictions or cautions in the rail lines. “The Government released the $20 million against our bid of $70 milion. This money will go towards the patching up of the rail network,” he said.