By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
ZAMBIANS will receive a Golden Jubilee gift from Government when a newly and completely refurbished passenger train arrives in the country in a couple of days.
The 16-coach passenger train, refurbished by Transnet of South Africa, left Pretoria for Zambia on Thursday and is expected to take 10 days to transit up to Livingstone.
Transnet Engineering general manager for Coaches business, Peter Cona, said at the flagging off ceremony in Pretoria that the train christened,‘The Golden Jubilee Express’ has been fully refurbished to bring it to internationally acceptable transportation hospitality standards.
This is according to a statement issued by the Press secretary at the Zambian High Commission to South Africa Nicky Shabolyo.
Mr Cona said the train has been fitted with six economy coaches, two standard, two sleeper, and one business class coach.
The train, with a built-in modern kitchen, television screens, showers and air conditioning, also includes a restaurant.
He said the train had a 25-year life span.
The Golden Jubilee Express will travel from Koedoespoort Station in Pretoria, through Zimbabwe to Beit Bridge before being handed over to Zambia Railways in Livingstone.
Transnet has already started refurbishing another train dubbed ‘Zambezi Express’ which would be delivered to Zambia.
The flagging off ceremony was witnessed by first secretary for economic and trade at Zambia’s High Commission in South Africa, Mande Kauseni and other officials from Transnet.