By JAMES KUNDA-
ZAMBIA Railways Limited (ZRL) is next month expected to launch the express train from Livingstone to Chingola, at a cost of more than US$14 million.
Head of corporate affairs, Benson Ngula said the company had procured 30 new executive coaches from South Africa to facilitate operations of the express train on the mainline between Southern Province and the Copperbelt.
“Zambia Railways expects to launch the express train from Livingstone to Chingola next month following the procurement of new coaches to operate the mainline,” Mr Ngula said.
He said all the new coaches were executive and furnished with various classes including business, economic and standard to suit the needs of passengers on the mainline.
The express train has not run on the mainline for over two decades now.
Meanwhile, ZRL has said the reconstruction of a 1.6 kilometre inter-mine railway line between Nkana and Mufulira is expected to start this year at a cost of $4 million.
ZRL General manager-intermine, Fred Kaoma said the facility would be the linkage between the Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) Nkana plant in Kitwe and the underground quarry in Mufulira.
Mr Kaoma said this when a team of directors from ZRL and Transport and Communications Deputy Minster, Panji Kaunda toured MCM in Mufulira, to explore prospects of re-introducing the inter-mine service.
“The inter-mine service will allow Mopani to haul at least 18,000 tonnes of copper concentrates and 15,000 tonnes of cathodes per month,” Mr Kaoma said.
MCM chief engineer Nicholas Lionnet said the company was ready to enter into a business agreement with ZRL if the rail firm could ensure security and timely delivery of products.
Meanwhile, Col Kaunda said the inter-mine service was a viable project that will reduce the cost of doing business for the mines.
“Government is doing everything possible to revive the inter-mine service so that heavy loads are moved by rail to protect the roads,” he said.
Zambia Railways requires about $50 million to operationalise the inter-mine service linking all the mines across the Copperbelt Province.