Inter-city train services to resume

Farirai Machivenyika 

Senior Reporter 

PASSENGER intercity train services will soon resume following the relaxation of Covid-19 containment regulations, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, has said.

The resumption by the National Railways of Zimbabwe was expected to coincide with the commissioning of the new diesel multiple units that are expected to replace the old locomotives and carriages now in use.

The diesel multiple units string together carriages each powered by on-board diesel engines and a train made up of such carriages requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into the carriages. 

Responding to questions in the Senate, Minister Mhona said: “We know we stopped the inter-city facility because of Covid-19 and now with the relaxation of those restrictions we are going to be re-introducing the inter-city trains again. 

“Train travel is cheaper and above all we are seized as a Ministry trying to procure what we call DMUs that will facilitate the easy movement of passengers unlike the old locomotives, the ones we are currently using. So you will be seeing the new locomotives and I would like to thank the Second Republic for moving with speed in that regard”.

Minister Mhona said his ministry was working with other stakeholders to revive the NRZ.

He said the revival of the railway track was critical in the movement of bulk cargo most of which is being transported by road causing extensive damage to highways in the process.

Zimbabwe has a 2 600km rail network with 200km of that requiring urgent rehabilitation, and the Government is engaging various foreign investors to partner the NRZ in reviving its operations.