Passenger train services resume today

HALIMA MLACHA Daily News; Monday,April 07, 2008 @18:03 Also in the News Passenger train services resume today Climate change: A looming health disaster Muleba road accident kills three victims Mob kills suspect over stolen bikes TPDC to float natural gas tender afresh Tabata residents may get compensation next week Floods render many homeless Kisutu court acquits prosecutor of bribery case Medical doctor joined in Muccadam’s fraud case 17 NGOs agree to tackle mismanagement in forestry RAILWAY travel services which were paralyzed recently when Tanzania Railway Limited (TRL) workers went on strike demanding salary rise, resumed today. The workers resumed work after the government assured them that their salaries would be elevated. This reporter saw railway workers selling travel tickets at the Dar es Salaam Railway Station today to passengers heading for Shinyanga, Tabora and Mwanza and other Central Railway Line stations. Last week TRL employees opted to stay home. One TRL ticket seller, who wished to remain anonymous, said a train would leave Dar es Salaam for Mwanza through Tabora today. He said the one-week strike had caused a congestion of passengers. He said it will take about two weeks to clear the travellers. A huge number of would-be travellers showed up at the station today prompting the formation of unusually long queues at the station. However, many of them left feeling disgruntled after being told that all cabins had been fully booked for the coming two weeks. A businessperson who identified himself as Abdul said he had a compelling trip upcountry and was disappointed that he could not get travel until April 26, this year. Abdul makes regular train trips upcountry, “because train tickets are cheaper.” Another traveller, Mr Richard, was advised to wait until April 18, this year. He told this reporter that he arrived in Dar es Salaam for a train connection up-country and was “greatly disappointed” at the grim prospect of waiting until April 18.