From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Business Report By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.
Workers in the financially troubled Tanzania Railway Limited {TRL} are reported to be vehemently opposed the move by the government to operate passenger coaches which were recently hired from India/s railways firm, Rites Ltd.
Reports emerging from Dar Es Salaam say that in a bid to improve railway services in the country, the TRL hired 23 grade three passenger coaches from the Indian parent company, Rites Ltd.
The surface and Marine Transport Authority [Sumatra} gave TRL conditions on the type of coaches that would be allowed to operate on the rail tracks in the country.
According to Sumatra, when the coaches were being manufactured in India, the authority’s head of inspection visited and inspected them, recommending certain specific modification to be made.
The modifications were suppose to be undertaken on certain compartments of the coaches that weren’t compatible with local {Tanzania} conditions.
The TRL management was asked to furnish Sumatra with information on the way the coaches would function or be used on Tanzania’s railway system.
In addition, TRL was ordered to make sure that the coaches were used only after undergoing the necessary changes [running tests} on the local railway tracks.
After the coaches arrived in Tanzania on September 13, 2008, they were given a test run from Dar Es Salaam to Morogoro town on the country’s Central line.
TRL was informed of the shortcoming on the coaches that needed to be rectified by TRL.
The public affairs manager with Sumatra Mr David was quoted as having said that after the adjustment were completed, the authority okayed use of the coaches in Tanzania, starting October 23rd last year. He added, that the usage of the coaches effectively started in January, this year. Unfortunately in March, a passenger train with the coaches collided with a goods train between Gutwe and Iganda Railway Stations.
“After this accident, a government committee appointed to investigate the accident recommended that the coaches be suspended from operations, until an in depth investigation had been carried out”,said Mr Mziray.
He further stated that TRL later published a notice to stop the use of the coaches with effect from September 10,2009 because the TRL had failed to pay the parent company [Rites Ltd} hiring charges.
The reasons given by the workers for blocking the train were that the coaches that were to be inspected didn’t deserve to be used for carrying passengers, and therefore there was no need to inspect them.
A source within the rail workers alleged that the Indian coaches were of sub-standard, and not conducive for use in the country’s railways system. Such sentiments were simply dismissed by the authorities as layman’s point of view and observation, and as such lacked technical backing.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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Subject: TANZANIA RAIL WOKERS IN PROTEST AGAINST SUB-STANDARD PASSENGER COACHES HIRED FROM INDIAN FIRM.