COMMUNTER TRAIN IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA MAKING HISTORY

 POSTED HERE ON 28/10/2012.

Tanzania: Dar Commuter Train Starts On Monday

by Ludovick Kazok, allafrica.com
October 27th 2012.

AT last the long awaited Dar es Salaam city commuter train which is geared to address the traffic jam problems will start operating on Monday 29/10/2012. 

Deputy Minister for Transport, Dr Charles Tizeba, told a news conference in the city that the city train would be starting at 5 a.m. and break at 11a.m and resume again at 3pm to 8pm.

"The soft launch ceremony of the city commuter train will be graced by the Minister for Transport, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, as we are still waiting for official launch by the Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda," he said.

He said the Tanzania Railway Limited (TRL) will be charging 400/- for adults while the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) will be charging 500/- for adults and that both parts will be charging children and students 100/-.

"After a long discussion with different transport stakeholders, we have reached to the conclusion on such train fair with directives from Sumatra (Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority)," said the deputy minister.

Dr Tizeba noted that the train would be starting at Ubungo Maziwa area in Kinondoni municipality to the main railway station in the city centre, saying other route will be starting at Tazara main station to Mwakanga and Kurasini areas.

He pointed out that the stopage stations from Dar es Salaam to Mwakanga area in Pugu will be eight including Kwa Fundi Umeme, Kwa Limboa, Lumo Kigilagila, Sigara, Kitunda road, Kipunguni B, Majohe, Magnus and Mwakanga.

Dr Tizeba said another route from Dar es Salaam to Kurasini will have six stations including Kwa Fundi Umeme, Yombo, Chimwaga, Maputo, Mtoni Relini and Kwa Aziz Ali Relini. Other stations are Kamata, Buguruni, Buguruni kwa Mnyamani, Tabata Matumbi, Tabata Mwananchi, Mabibo and Ubungo Maziwa.

He said about 2,000 ticket vending stations have been earmarked for the city commuter train and that tickets will also be available at the stations, saying there will be no purchasing a ticket inside the trains.

"Passengers will have to queue in order to get in the train as the first come first served procedures will be used." The deputy minister has directed those conducting business within the prohibited 60 metres from the railways to vacate the area immediately and that the government will not hesitate to take them to court.