adminIvan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
The commuter service introduced by the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) in partnership with the National Railways of Zimbabwe is now in full throttle.
The Mufakose train is leaving the station with all its coaches full whilst the Ruwa and Tynwald trains are still building capacity.
Zupco is now also providing shuttle services to commuters from bus terminuses in the Central Business District (CBD) to the railway station.
Zupco acting chief executive Mr Evaristo Mudangwa said they were happy with the commuters’ response to their rail services.
“The Mufakose route is now in full throttle and the train is leaving the station full of passengers. We are happy that commuters have embraced the rail services and this is a positive step in de-congesting our city roads.
“For the Ruwa and Tynwald routes we are still building capacity, but the response has been overwhelming. We are also providing shuttle services from the bus terminuses in the CBD to the railway station on the same ticket,” he said.
Zupco is also providing feeder services from the suburban stations that passengers use on the same ticket for the final leg of going home or the initial leg of going to town.
The rail services are expected to be introduced in Bulawayo before being rolled over to all towns across the country to decongest roads and ensure a safe way of commuting for travellers.
The move falls under the Government’s priority for a decent, adequate and efficient public transport system.
Police recently said travellers who board buses, kombis and mushikashika not registered under the Zupco franchise risk fines of $2 000 each as police intensifies operations against errant bus, commuter omnibus and private car operators who continue defying Covid-19 regulations.
The development came when police were in the process of screening buses which were impounded for breaching intercity travelling regulation before the lockdown was relaxed.
Commuters attributed the boarding of unregistered buses, kombis and mushikashika which are operating illegally to lack of Zupco buses and kombis across the country.
Responding to the people’s plight Zupco partnered NRZ and introduced rail coaches to ease congestion in and out of the capital and to get rid of illegal means of travelling.
Besides the rail service, Zupco is on a drive to recruit more franchise holders and has invited all owners of roadworthy buses and kombis to join the fleet and the transport company is working with the police to see how buses can be given priority at peak hours so as to speed up turnaround times.
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