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Business Reporter
The National Railways of Zimbabwe is currently refurbishing its fleet and reducing speed restrictions on its rail tracks, acting general manager Lewis Mukwada has said. NRZ is also working with Bindura Nickel Corporation with a view of providing a rail solution on the export of 5 00 tonnes of nickel concentrates

In an interview with The Herald Business, Mr Mukwada said NRZ has been working on reducing the speed restrictions on the track.

“The length of track under speed restriction has been reduced from 420km in 2010 to 300km currently,” said Mr Mukwada.

The organisation is also currently replacing cracked rail on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls line.

“For trains communications, the organisation is finishing off the Gweru to Chicualacuala communications network, which entailed setting up 12 communication bases for a UHF/VHF network along the line.

“This enables trains to communicate with the Dabuka control centre,” he added.

The current operational fleet is 3500 wagons and 60 locomotives.

He said that NRZ has to date refurbished five locomotives and 150 wagons. The target is to refurbish 10 locomotives and 400 wagons in 2015.

Zimbabwe Sugar Association president Mr Muchadei Masunda once said the country’s industry and mining sectors need a modern and efficient railway system if sound industrial transformation and economic production is to be realised.