NRZ gears for holiday

In a statement yesterday, NRZ public relations manager Mr Fanuel Masikati said because of the high demand during the holiday, the NRZ would introduce two special train services from Bulawayo to Harare and Harare to Mutare on Thursday.
“The special train services will commence on Thursday to cater for school children and holiday travellers during the forthcoming holidays,” he said.
Mr Masikati said there would be no commuter train services in Bulawayo and Harare from Friday until Monday next week.

“This is because most people who use commuter trains will close for the Easter holidays and the train would be back on Tuesday next week,” he said.
Mr Masikati said the train from Bulawayo to Francistown would also be suspended from Friday to Monday.
“The train from Bulawayo to Francistown would be suspended from Friday to Tuesday next week, with normal services resuming next week on Friday,” he said.

However, Mr Masikati expressed concern with gold panners who had resorted to digging gold along and under railway lines.
“The NRZ has also observed with concern, the dangerous attempts and practices by some gold panners who have resorted to digging gold along the                   railway lines as well as under the railway lines, a move which is highly dangerous and risky to the movement of both passenger and goods trains in the country,” he said.

Mr Masikati said there were people who were caught stealing structures at railway flyovers.
“These acts of sabotage are strongly discouraged, since they pose danger to the movement of trains and the travelling public in the country,” he said.
He appealed to the public to report anyone seen digging along the railway lines to the nearest police station or NRZ security officers.

Mr Masikati said dangerous acts such as children and adults lying and sitting on the railway lines were discouraged because people could lose their lives.
He urged passengers to use platform walkways, instead of crossing underneath stationary trains, as well as crossing railway lines.

“It is dangerous to do so as people risk being run over by trains.
“The general public may also be reminded that Railways reserves are protected and people are prohibited from entering and crossing railway lines, save for designated crossing points only,” he said.