This Thursday, limited passenger services resume between Kampala and Namanve, following suspension last year to pave the way for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the existing line.
The passenger services will feature departures from Namanve to Kampala at 6:40am and 7:45am and evening departures from Kampala at 5:30pm and 6:50pm to with each trip taking about 40 minutes. A one-way ticket will cost sh2,000.
With the announcement, Uganda Railways Corporation reiterated that it has not abandoned the city rail transport system, though it will take longer to realize, according to officials.
The light rail transport system would see passenger trains operate across the capital Kampala, which will greatly reduce the cost of transport, congestion and delays.
However, URC says the problem with Kampala is that when it was being planned, there was no provision for that transport system.
“This will make it hard for us, but it is in our plans, though for now we are focusing on restoring the existing but dilapidated infrastructure”, says John Linonn Sengendo, the head of communications at URC.
“We have a lot we are doing and we have a lot that we want to do, funds allowing,” Sengendo says, appreciating the funding by Uganda Development Bank towards most of the projects today.
“If, for example, government focused resources on railways like they have done for roads, there’s a lot we can do. Can you imagine if we only had like 1 trillion shillings for four years!”
According to Sengendo, there are currently five coaches or wagons, each with a capacity of 120 to 150 passengers, meaning that they can carry between 600 and 750 passengers per trip.
Another coach is expected in the country in a month. The Namanve-Kampala train will have five stopovers at Namboole, Kireka, Interfreight Nakawa and Makerere University Business School-Nakawa.
URC says it has made orders for more coaches which will increase their capacity.
“They take a long time to complete and deliver, because we are deploying new coaches. So it might take up to three months.”
On public sentiments about the meter gauge railway being “outdated”, Sengendo says that on the contrary, even developed countries like Japan are still deploying MGRs.
He says the standard gauge railway is very expensive and will not do Ugandans good if all resources are put into it.
“If you see the resources that Tanzania has put in, we don’t have those resources. And by the way, even with the diesel-powered MGR, you cannot see much difference. Our MGR will be doing exactly what the Tanzania SGR is doing.”
In the short term, the plan is to extend the passenger services to Kyengera on Masaka Road, and to Port Bell on Lake Victoria and from Namanve to Mukono.
“Later we are going to extend the services to Bujuuko, and from Mukono to Lugazi, and work on that line could take three years. But that is because of the resources, it all depends on when the money will arrive,” Sengendo says.
He says they are also constructing state-of-the-art passenger shelters, with “park and ride” abilities, to enable motorists to drive in, park and board the train.
*Source – URN*