News / National
NRZ fails to meet demand for passenger services
25 Jul 2019 at 19:22hrs | Views
The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) carried more than half a million passengers on its commuter and inter-city passenger trains in the first six months of 2019.
A total of 508 148 people boarded the trains between 1 January and 30 June against a target of 535 532 passengers.
Most of the passengers were on the inter-city passenger trains which had a total of 364 613 passengers.
The inter-city passenger service surpassed its target of 275 532 passengers by 32 percent with NRZ failing to meet demand as more people resort to travel by rail.
Patronage on the inter-city routes has been on an upward trend since January when 48 905 people boarded. In June, a total of 78 335 people boarded the trains.
More people are turning to the inter-city passenger trains as they are cheaper compared to road transport.
It is projected that 478 148 people will board the inter-city passenger trains in the second half of 2019.
NRZ runs inter-city commuter trains between Bulawayo - Victoria Falls; Bulawayo - Harare; Harare - Mutare; Bulawayo - Chiredzi and Bulawayo - Chicualacuala.
On the other hand, demand for the commuter train service in Bulawayo was subdued with 143 535 people boarding the train which plies the City-Cowdray Park route against a target of 260 000 passengers.
After starting the year strongly with patronage exceeding target, passenger numbers started falling with the introduction of Zupco buses by the Government in urban areas.
In January, 55 865 commuters boarded the commuter train, 140 percent above target.
In February, patronage slipped to 22 686 and 21 304 in March.
In April, 6 967 commuters boarded the train before figures started going up in May and June when 13 332 and 23381 passengers respectively used the service.
The NRZ re-introduced the commuter train service in Bulawayo in November 2018 in response to a plea from residents in the city after commuter omnibus operators raised their fares. The organisation runs a total of five (5) inter-city trains in the country.
N. MARAVANYIKA
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
23 July 2019
A total of 508 148 people boarded the trains between 1 January and 30 June against a target of 535 532 passengers.
Most of the passengers were on the inter-city passenger trains which had a total of 364 613 passengers.
The inter-city passenger service surpassed its target of 275 532 passengers by 32 percent with NRZ failing to meet demand as more people resort to travel by rail.
Patronage on the inter-city routes has been on an upward trend since January when 48 905 people boarded. In June, a total of 78 335 people boarded the trains.
More people are turning to the inter-city passenger trains as they are cheaper compared to road transport.
It is projected that 478 148 people will board the inter-city passenger trains in the second half of 2019.
NRZ runs inter-city commuter trains between Bulawayo - Victoria Falls; Bulawayo - Harare; Harare - Mutare; Bulawayo - Chiredzi and Bulawayo - Chicualacuala.
On the other hand, demand for the commuter train service in Bulawayo was subdued with 143 535 people boarding the train which plies the City-Cowdray Park route against a target of 260 000 passengers.
After starting the year strongly with patronage exceeding target, passenger numbers started falling with the introduction of Zupco buses by the Government in urban areas.
In January, 55 865 commuters boarded the commuter train, 140 percent above target.
In February, patronage slipped to 22 686 and 21 304 in March.
In April, 6 967 commuters boarded the train before figures started going up in May and June when 13 332 and 23381 passengers respectively used the service.
The NRZ re-introduced the commuter train service in Bulawayo in November 2018 in response to a plea from residents in the city after commuter omnibus operators raised their fares. The organisation runs a total of five (5) inter-city trains in the country.
N. MARAVANYIKA
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
23 July 2019
Source - N Maravanyika
