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TRL says major railway sytem improvements coming
2008-02-11 08:58:33
By Judica Tarimo
The management of Tanzania Reli Ltd (TRL) has cleared public doubts over the current critical service delivery problems facing upcountry passengers and cargo trains, saying major and serious improvements on the railway systems were underway.
Overcrowding and congestion of passengers in coaches are some of the major problems facing passengers` trains managed by the new and foreign management that took over from the railway system from the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) management in a protracted privatization process late last year.
There are also outcries and complaints that security is not effective in coaches, as passengers` valuable properties sometimes get stolen or mysteriously disappear.
However, in an exclusive interview on Friday, the Managing Director of TRL, Narasimhasmi Jayram, told `The Guardian` that the management plans to import 23 coaches at the end of next month and two engines for passenger trains in a week`s time.
TRL is a jointly established company by the Tanzanian government and Rites of India.
``Both coaches and engines will be imported from India…no doubt, the arrival of the coaches and the passenger trains will boost up performance and significantly improve service delivery for Kigoma and Mwanza routes,`` said Jayram.
According to the official, the coming engines for passenger trains will adopt fast-tracking and direct-service to the destination points (Mwanza and Kigoma) without undergoing traditional shunting at Tabora station.
This, he said, will reduce long-standing problem of waiting for 3 hours and minimise threats of theft of passengers` properties at the shunting points.
``Importation of the two engines for passenger trains brings the number of perfectly operating passengers` trains to six …we are eyeing for better rail services in this country in the next few years to come,`` said the director.
Rehabilitation of 30 old-fashioned coaches, one of the programmes earmarked by the firm during the introductory stage, is going on, according to Jayram, adding that the long-term exercise would be finalised by March next year.
In attempt to address security issues-(of both passengers and their properties), the new management plans to improve lighting system, and that required spare parts for the work had already been ordered from India.
``The spare parts would arrive in the country in a month\'s time. Improvement of lighting in coaches and rail systems generally could help to intensify security and counter the current security threats in one of the country\'s oldest rail transport,`` said the director.
In addition to police forces presently manning security in the passengers` trains, TRL is planning to introduce private security forces to beef up security forces, who are expected to start work in one-week time.
Plans to import 15 locomotives from India, which is part of the broader, long-term and strategic company` plan, is still intact, and the director said five locomotives would be in the country after one week while the remaining would arrive after 20 days.
The company is also looking for an expert to undertake major repairs and rehabilitation of 15 old-fashioned 73-Class-medium-capacity and 88-Class-high-capacity locomotives at the firm`s workshops.
``Very soon, we will float a tender to secure the expert for the work. This rehabilitation is so important for Tanzania, as it will ease movement of goods and facilitate business and trade activities cross the country and the neighbouring countries of Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries,`` he said.``
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