Zambia Railways Limited has started testing speeds on some railway stretches which have been rehabilitated.The Company is targeting to increase speed from 20 to 80 kilometres per hour.
During a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Zambia Railways Limited Chief Executive Officer Muyenga Atanga said the speeds will totally increase after the completion of rehabilitation works in 2018.
Professor Atanga said speed and safety will only be guaranteed in 2018 when the world class contractor Bombadier completes the installation of signaling in the same year.
Currently speeds are very slow.The Mulobezi train travelling at a speed of 15 kilometres per hour takes up to 2 days to reach Livingstone which is 168 kilometres from Mulobezi District.Professor Atanga said the mining sector, KCM in particular, has awarded contracts to his institution to transport cargo but that speed is an issue.
Prof Atanga said the company is ambitious and determined to prove to stakeholders that the State is not pumping funds into a “bottomless pit”.He said that ZRL under his leadership had managed to use the US $120 million,which is part of the US $750 million Eurobond, it received from Government to remain afloat.
He said ZRL will start making profits next year as 2013 and 2014 were for capital investments.
Prof Atanga cited some of the strides as the recent launch of the Mulobezi train under very difficult conditions as well as the Kapiri-Nakonde train.
Prof Atanga said to further enhance passenger services, ZRL would be launching another train with modern technology towards the end of September and first week of October, this year.
He urged people to avoid listening to some sections of society who were talking ill about ZRL but that they should instead relax and watch the railway company as it moved to success.
Prof Atanga said ZRL was under difficult conditions reviving the inter mine project, which requires an investment US $50 million for it to work properly, but was using its initiatives to resuscitate it.
Prof Atanga said ZRL had signed a contract with Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to move 560,000 tonnes of cargo and that by September, this year it was determined to start moving 20,000 tonnes.Prof Atanga disclosed that besides the mines, Government approached ZRL in April this year on whether it was capable of transporting 50,000 tonnes of fertilizer coming from Saudi Arabia and he assured them that ZRL was
ready to move the commodity.
Yaba! They have been quiet slow! Dobadoba!
Good thing is that you will no longer be CEO in 2018 you will have been rested
PROFFESSOR IN MEN INLARGEMENT.PROFFESOR IN MAGIC BWANA ATANGA MUNATENGA ITI BOSS?
What? From Lusaka to Kafue in 2 hours? That is sad, and depressing.
This is rather confusing. I thought just a few days ago this same professor was quoted as saying ” Zambians will get a modern train before October 2014″. Modern train travelling at 20km/h?????
@PM
Have respect, niba “professor” abo ka! (lol)
Ati Professor Atanga???????????????? Iyo kwena.
This cadre should not be in that ZRL office. ..you mean you can not do it phases with prioritising Ndola to Kapiri as this is your bread and butter for transportation of copper. Is he telling us his single sourced contractors are not working in synergy or co-ordination.
I agree with you, they should have prioritized routes that will finance other minor routes later. It’s a sad thing for trains to move at 20km/h in the 21st century and worse still, have the audacity to say speed and safety will only be guaranteed in 4 years
Speed and Safety will only be guaranteed after 2018. In the mean time jump on the train at your own peril or insure us at your own risk. Infact dont jump on the train so that we dont have money to payback the eurobond.
What an assurance!! And this “professor” thinks he is talking a lot of sense, when on the contrary it’s all hogwash!. As a matter of interest anyway, doesn’t he employ public relations persons who could put this better to the public. He seems to have assumed all roles. Some “professor” indeed. Clive Chirwa we miss you!
Just 3 days ago, this man stood on a hilltop and announced that just in one month Zambians will soon be surprised by the coming state-of-art trains! Indeed Zambians are now surprised that state-of-art trains will be moving at 20km per hour until 2018 when they will become high speed trains reaching maximum speed of 80km per hour! Surly should prof Atanga be angry when we call him “use.less prof”???
Ubuwelewele mu chalo…………….
Surely, how much stock or humans can you transport per year at a speed of 20km per hour? The railway transport system should have been improving massively years ago – not allowed to deteriorate to this level. Now we are so far behind. Only recently I travelled on a train that was doing 250km per hour. I don’t know how I would feel on a 20km per hour train.
This is the kind of news people would like to hear. Progress, progress! Well done Zambia Railways. I hope a new government in 2016 wont replace you with a new CEO
IS THIS THE SURPRISE TRAIN ATANGA WAS TALKING ABOUT?
MAY BE BECAUSE OF THE 15KM/H.