Tanzania: workers oppose plan to hire old coaches

[John Ashworth]

Workers oppose move to hire old coaches from Indian firm

By JOSEPH MWAMUNYANGE
The EastAfrican
Posted Monday, October 26 2009 at 00:00

Workers of the troubled Tanzania Railway Ltd (TRL) are opposing a move by the government to operate passenger coaches hired from India’s railway firm — Rites Ltd.

In a bid to improve railway services in the country, the company hired 23 grade three passenger coaches from the Indian parent company, Rites.

The Surface and Marine Transport Authority (Sumatra) gave TRL conditions on the type of coaches that would be allowed to operate on rail tracks in the country.

According to Sumatra, when the coaches were being manufactured, the authority’s head of inspection visited and inspected them, recommending modifications to be made.

The modifications were to be undertaken on certain components of the coaches that weren’t compatible with local (Tanzania) conditions.

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 test), on local tracks.

After the coaches arrived in Tanzania on September 13, 2008, they were given a test run from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro.

TRL was informed of the shortcomings on the coaches that needed to be rectified by TRL.

David Mzray, public affairs manager of Sumatra, said after the adjustments were completed the authority okayed use of the coaches in Tanzania starting October 23 last year.

Mr Mziray said 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 Gulwe and Igandu 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,” he said.

Mr Mziray said TRL published a notice to stop the use of the coaches starting September 10 2009 because TRL had failed to pay the parent company (Rites) hiring fees.

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.

The Sumatra Chief Inspector in collaboration with TRL officials had scheduled to inspect the coaches as recommended by the Government Committee that was formed to investigate the accident.

The inspection was supposed to be undertaken from Dar es Salaam station to Dodoma from 12/10/2009 to 13/10/2009.

The main objective of the inspection was to look at the finer details and state of the coaches including their safety in passenger ferrying.

However, when the experts from SUMATRA and TRL arrived at Dar es Station to start the inspection journey, they were met by angry workers who blocked the way thus making it impossible for the inspectors to make the trip.

In the view of the workers the coaches were hired from TRL’s parent company at unnecessarily great cost, in view of this they (workers) didn’t expect to get any salary increases because most of the Money would go towards meeting leasing costs.

According to Mr Mziray efforts by Union (TRAWU) officials, TRL and SUMATRA to convince the workers to come to terms on the necessity of inspecting the coaches and the need to allow the inspectors continue with their journey fail on deaf ears, as the workers stood their ground.

The Chief Railways Inspector (SUMATRA), officials from TRL and TRAWU represented by the Secretary General met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Mr. Omar Chambo.

Mr Chambo directed the TRAWU leadership to educate their members on the intended objective of the inspection so that they allow for the inspectors continue with their work Schedule. In turn the TRAWU leadership promised to speak to the workers and give a feedback.

“As of now we at SUMATRA were still waiting for an official response from TRL detailing what has been agreed with the workers representatives. This would make it possible for us (SUMATRA) to issue a new Schedule for the inspection,” said Mr Mziray.

There have been calls from different quarters of the committee calling for the termination of the contract entered into between RITES and the Tanzania Government, citing unsatisfactory services offered by TRL.