By JAMES KUNDA
 –

THE Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has re-organised its passenger train operations and introduced new travel timetables on major routes.
Head of public relations Conrad Simuchile said yesterday that with effect from Tuesday August 26 2014, the inter-state cross-border passenger trains, between Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and New Kapiri-Mposhi in Zambia, would no longer run through across the borders.
Mr Simuchile said instead, the passenger trains will operate as local trains within the respective borders of Tanzania and Zambia, intersecting and both u-turning at the border station of Nakonde.
“Passengers who intend to cross the border and travel by train all the way through to the other country will be required to swap trains at Nakonde in order to proceed to Dar es Salaam or New Kapiri-Mposhi, respectively,” Mr Simuchile said in a satement.
Regarding the new travel timetables, Mr Simuchile said departure days from Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri-Mposhi remain Tuesday and Friday, while the departure days from Nakonde to Dar es Salaam and from Nakonde to New Kapiri-Mposhi will be Wednesdays and Saturdays.
He said in Tanzania, the Kilimanjaro Express Train would depart Dar es Salaam on Tuesdays at 10:10 hours in the morning and arrive in Nakonde on Wednesdays at 12:45 hours.
“The Kilimanjaro will then u-turn and leave Nakonde the same Wednesday at 13:15 hours and arrive in Dar es Salaam on Thursday afternoon at 15:23 hours.
On the other hand, the Kilimanjaro Ordinary Train will leave Dar es Salaam on Fridays at 10:30 hours in the morning and arrive in Nakonde at 16:16 hours on Saturday afternoon, u-turn and depart for Dar es Salaam at 16:46 hours the same Saturday, arriving in Dar es Salaam on Sunday at 22:49 hours,” he stated.
Mr Simuchile said similarly, in Zambia, the trains will depart New Kapiri-Mposhi on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Mukuba Express Train will be departing New Kapiri-Mposhi at 16:00 hours on Tuesday, arriving in Nakonde at 08:41 hours on Wednesday morning, then u-turn and depart for New Kapiri-Mposhi at 18:00 hours the same Wednesday, arriving there at 10:39 hours on Thursday morning.
 Mr Simuchile said the timetables for the Tanzanian and Zambian operated trains have been designed in such a way as to allow for the interfacing of the trains at Nakonde station so that any passengers that are crossing into the other country have sufficient time to swap the trains and proceed with their journey with minimum inconvenience.