Author: EDWARD QORRO
AfricaPress-Tanzania: Arusha residents were yesterday treated to a rare spectacle after the arrival of the passenger train as part of its maiden trip to Arusha.
Pulling behind 11 cabins, the locomotive arrived at the Railway Station mid-morning, amidst jubilant crowd who thronged the venue as early as six in the morning to catch a glimpse of the long awaited train snaking its way after 30 years hiatus.
The historical trip brought more than 600 passengers to the region, after leaving Dar es Salaam on Friday afternoon.
Reached for a comment, Tanzania Railway Company (TRC) Director General Masanja Kadogosa said that the train will be plying between Arusha and Dar es Salaam, four times a week.
“If need be, we will increase the number of routes between the two regions taking into account that we are approaching high season,” hinted the TRC Director General.
However, Mr Kadogosa urged Arusha residents to make the most of train, saying the state-owned company had slashed down its fares to enable Tanzanians to capitalise on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In welcoming the journey, the company has rolled out one-month offer for Arusha and Dar es Salaam residents, where prospective travellers will now be parting ways with only 16,000/- instead of 18,700/.
The TRC boss further revealed that plans were underway to establish the daily Moshi-Arusha route at 1,500/-, adding: “We are not here to kill bus transport, but rather to complement it.”
On his part, Arusha District Commissioner Kenani Kihongosi commended TRC for honoring its promise of resuming passenger train service after 30 years in oblivion, saying: “The wait was long but worth it.”
Yona Mitula, a locomotive driver, who chauffeured the train from Dar es Salaam to Arusha, expressed his delight over the maiden trip.
The train was due to return to Dar es Salaam yesterday afternoon.
In Tanzania, railway network covers almost all key economic zones, which according to economists, railway transport remains a crucial mode of transport for economic growth of any country.
This is attested by the fact that more cargo can be hauled at one time and the fact that it is safer compared to using roads.
