Category: <span>Moving</span>

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is pleased to note that the travelling public has responded positively to the re-introduction of commuter trains in Bulawayo.
More than 5 000 passengers have boarded the City-Cowdray Park commuter train in the first five days of its operation.
The commuter train started operating on Monday 5 November 2018.
It runs from Monday to Friday with two services daily in the morning and evening and the rail entity is charging 50 cents for a single trip.
On the first morning run on November 5, 309 passengers boarded the train.
On the return trip in the evening the number increased to 350.
On Tuesday, 532 boarded in the morning and 537 in the evening.
Wednesday morning attracted the highest patronage of the week with 743 passengers boarding. In the evening the commuter train carried 486 passengers.
Thursday saw the morning service recording 618 passengers while 489 were on the evening service. On Friday 607 passengers boarded the morning train compared to 334 on the evening train.
The train also managed to maintain right time departures and arrivals, thus sticking to scheduled times.
The commuter train has seven coaches with each coach having a capacity of 100 passengers.
With 5005 passengers having boarded the train in its first week, the capacity utilisation for the initial five days is 71 %.
NRZ is pleased and satisfied with how it has managed to service the route conveniently for its encouraging commuter train patronage.
It has also noted requests from passengers who work mainly in the industrial sites who would like the train to leave Cowdray Park earlier so that they have ample time to walk to their workplaces. However, it should be noted that in coming up with the departure times the NRZ is trying to balance
the interests of passengers who start work early and those who start at traditional 0800 Hours as per many companies’ business hours.
The NRZ reintroduced the commuter train in response to appeals from the travelling public who were being overcharged by commuter omnibuses with some kombis charging as much as $2 at peak times for a trip into the city.
N. MARAVANYIKA
MARAVANYIKA
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
13 November 2018

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) would like to advise the public that it is re-introducing commuter trains starting with the City- Cowdray Park route on Monday 5 November, 2018. 

The commuter train will operate two services between Bulawayo Station and Esigodweni in Cowdray Park in the morning and evening from Monday to Friday.  

Services on other routes will be introduced in due course.  

The morning commuter train will depart Bulawayo Station at 0405 Hours and arrive at Esigodweni at 0530 Hours.  

It will depart at 0535 Hours and arrive at Bulawayo Station at 0700 Hours. 

The evening service will leave Bulawayo Station at 1730 Hours and arrive at Esigodweni at 1850 hours.  

It will depart for the return trip at 1855 Hours and arrive at 2015 Hours. 

It will have stops at “Greenroofs” in Cowdray Park, Luveve, Cowdray Park Level Crossing, Entumbane, Nguboyenja, Mpopoma and Westgate to pick up and drop off passengers.  

The fare is pegged at 50 cents for a single ride. Only cash payment will be accepted for single ride tickets and purchases can be made either before boarding or while on board the train. 

Commuters can also buy 10 multi-ride tickets for $4.50.  

Multi-ride tickets can be bought using swipe or Ecocash at the Bulawayo Station.   

The NRZ urges passengers to pay their fares. 

Previously, the NRZ ran a commuter train from Bulawayo to Luveve. However, it has decided to extend the service to Esigodweni, about four kilometres from Luveve Siding, to cater for passengers in the new suburbs sprouting in the city who are paying commuter omnibuses $2 for a single trip into the city. 

The NRZ has set aside seven passenger coaches for service. 

The NRZ will like to appeal to passengers not to board or disembark from the train while it is motion. They should also avoid stampeding as they get aboard the train. 

 

Nyasha Maravanyika 

Public Relations Manager 

 

31 October 2018