NRZ hands over refurbished wagons to BBR

THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has handed over the first batch of 10 wagons rehabilitated under its Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) with Bulawayo-Beitbridge Railways (BBR).

The wagons were handed over to a BBR representative at a brief ceremony at the NRZ Mechanical Engineer’s workshops on Wednesday 14 March 2018.

The NRZ and BBR entered into this PPPs arrangement in January 2018 to refurbish 25 wagons high sided wagons.

Under the arrangement the two organisations identify the wagons for refurbishment with the BBR funding the exercise and the NRZ refurbishing the equipment.

The wagons had been stabled and not working for varying periods of time due to defects.

The wagons are general purpose wagons which will be used by BBR to carry clinker used in the manufacture of cement.

BBR provided US$270 000 to buy spares for the refurbishment exercise at the NRZ Mechanical Workshops.

Work to refurbish the wagons started early January and the first 10 wagons were completed on 7 March.

The completion of the refurbishment exercise has shown that NRZ workshops still have the expertise to undertake and complete big complex mechanical work within deadlines.

The remaining 15 wagons are at various stages of refurbishment and work will be completed before the end of March.

The refurbishment work involved complete overhaul of the wagons with attention being given to the main body and brake system bogies.

The wagons now have an extended lifespan of five years.

The refurbished wagons will be used by BBR to ferry Pretoria Portland Cement Limited clinker from Collen Bawn to Heaney Junction near Bulawayo from where the NRZ will move the cargo to Harare.

NRZ is using PPPs as one of the strategies to ensure that rolling stock is available to its clients.

While the NRZ focuses on the bigger picture of its recapitalisation Project, the rail giant has made great strides in small projects and such PPPs over the past few years.