The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has reversed its decision to suspend urban commuter train service less than 24 hours after announcing the move.
On Saturday, 26 November, NRZ public affairs and stakeholder relations manager Andrew Kunambura said the service would be suspended from Monday, 28 November.
But in a statement on Sunday, 27 November, Kunambura said he was withdrawing the previous statement. He said:
<blockquote>
NRZ hereby withdraws the press statement issued this Saturday 26 November 2022 on the [suspension of commuter train service].
The commuting public will be updated if there are any new developments.
Any inconvenience caused to our valued customers and other stakeholders is sincerely regretted.
</blockquote>
The NRZ commuter trains ply various routes in Harare and Bulawayo and were introduced last year through a partnership between the NRZ and the Zimbabwe Passenger Company (ZUPCO).
The introduction of commuter trains was aimed at lessening congestion and easing the transport challenges that urban commuters were facing.
Yesterday, Kunambura said the suspension of the service was necessitated by ZUPCO’s failure to pay overdue fees. He said:
<blockquote>
The suspension was occasioned by an unsustainable operating environment arising from huge debts owed to NRZ by ZUPCO.
NRZ was therefore left with no option but to suspend commuter trains from 28 November due to capacity challenges.
Normal services will resume once ZUPCO fulfills its obligations as set in the agreement.
Any inconvenience caused to our valued customers is sincerely regretted.
</blockquote>
NRZ’s U-turn will come as a huge relief to commuters as trains provide a cheaper mode of transport compared to kombis.

Pindula News

NRZ Reverses Decision To Suspend Commuter Trains

National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) board chairperson Martin Dinha has implored the government to subsidise the urban commuter train service to enable the parastatal to continue serving members of the public.
Dinha said this in a speech read on his behalf during the launch of the third edition of the NRZ National Safety Week, which is also commemorated by Southern Africa Railway Association members.
The theme for the commemorations this year was “Be Vigilant around Tracks, Trains are fast but too slow to stop”. Said Dinha:
<blockquote>
Our passenger service, particularly in the commuter trains such as the ones that run in Luveve, Cowdry Park, are never profit-oriented world over but community and social-based. We are basically serving the community.
In conjunction with ZUPCO, we request the government to provide a subsidy for commuter train services which we offer in urban areas.
… We continue to rely on government support to ensure we achieve the objective of turning around the fortunes of this great entity.
As we go into the twilight zone of the turnaround phase, we have been geared for this transformation so that we bring NRZ to its rightful position in terms of influencing our economy.
</blockquote>
Dinha expressed concern over the increase in unsafe activities around the railway tracks which include railroad-level crossing accidents, suicides on the tracks, stone throwing, vandalism, illegal gold panning and mining.
He appealed to line Ministries and other government departments to assist the NRZ in protecting the national infrastructure.
The NRZ first introduced commuter trains (commonly known as Freedom Trains) in Harare and Bulawayo in 2001.
The company suspended the service in 2020 following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic but reintroduced it in 2021 in partnership with the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO). | <a href="https://newziana.co.zw/2022/10/13/government-urged-to-subsidise-the-urban-commuter-train-service/">New Ziana</a>

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