TRL to resume services after infrastructure hit by floods

 
TANZANIA Railway Limited (TRL) is expected to resume transport services on Friday, following rehabilitation of four sections of the rail line which were destroyed by floods in January this year.

 

In the past two months TRL suspended transport services from Dar es Salaam, following massive destruction of the railway line by floods at Kidete and Kilosa stations in Morogoro Region.

 

Acting TRL Communications manager Mohamed Mapondela said they decided to suspend the transport services due to the massive destruction on the railway line which was caused by heavy rainfall.

 

Mapondela reassured passengers that the trains were in a good state and were ready to transport passengers and cargo.

 

“After a huge initiative by TRL and RAHCO, finally the rehabilitation of the rail line has been completed. Therefore, we except to start transport services from Dar es Salaam to upcountry regions on March, this year,” he explained. 

 

He urged train passengers to make sure they arranged their trips and did their booking early in order to avoid inconveniencing others.

 

For his part, TRL senior business manager Paul Baregu said the ordinary upcountry passanger train services would resume on the Dar es Salaam to Mwanza/Kigoma route every Tuesday and Friday.  Baregu noted further that the deluxe train would operate its services beginning every Sunday morning from Dar es Salaam.

 

“The ordinary upcountry train will operate from Manza to Kigoma every Thursday and Sunday. The journey will start in the evening while the Deluxe train will operate on the Mwanza to Kigoma route every Tuesday morning,” he explained.

 

On January 28, this year, TRL announced it had suspended train services from Dar es Salaam, Coast and Morogoro to upcountry regions using TRL coaches would have to rely on other means of transport to Dodoma after the rail lines were destroyed by floods early this month. 

 

The move followed the massive destruction of the railway lines by floods at Kidete and Kilosa stations in Morogoro Region early this month.

Addressing reporters in Dar es Salaam, TRL Public Relations officer Midladjy Maez said the services would resume after completion of ongoing repair work in Morogoro Region.