BR must find ways to make Blue Train profitable

Mmegi Editor | Monday August 15, 2022 06:00

The story talks about how the ‘Blue Train’, as locals have often called it, has vanished just three years after returning on the rail line.

The train stopped operation in January 2020.

According to the story, this time the train could be gone for good as it has emerged that authorities have no intention of returning it. The loss-making passenger train’s situation is believed to have been also worsened by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BR says the passenger train will remain suspended indefinitely until the railway parastatal gets to a point that it will be convenient, profitable and sustainable to run the facility.

While the issue of non-profitability is real, it is really disturbing how BR has gone about the business of passenger train. Before arriving at the decision of terminating the passenger train service, BR needs to seriously introspect and undertake research.

Honestly, it would be a bad business move for BR to terminate the service. Around the world, passenger train is an essential element of surface transportation system. The passenger train service supports economic development, connects rural communities to the nation and helps reduce roadway congestion in major roads. In addition, it makes it easier for commuters to reach their destinations every weekday.

Congestion along the A1 Highway takes a heavy toll on the economy.

It is usually a nightmare especially during public holidays and has claimed so many lives. It is safe to say that BR has not done enough in terms of how to make the train fashionable and the preferred mode of transport locally like in other countries.

The infrastructure already exists, but it is just a matter of improving it and getting it to modern standards. Technology has the potential to bring about the changes needed to increase efficiency of rail transport and improve customer experience. Encouraging society to use the passenger train more often requires the implementation of measures to make the journey more pleasurable.

Examples include strategies to increase reliability, trustworthiness and enhancing convenience to improve journey planning. Being innovative and acquiring modern technology could improve Batswana’s perceptions of rail transport and improve the overall passenger experience. The suspension of the passenger train has inconvenienced travellers between the northern and the southern parts of the country. The convenience of the passenger train has come to the fore on many different occasions.

For example, if someone who stays in Franscistown has an interview in the morning in Gaborone, they can take a night train and arrive on time for the appointment. They will then later on board the evening train back to Francistown. Imagine how much this person would have cut down on accommodation expenses.

We urge BR not to make a hasty decision and stop the passenger train. The state-owned railway company should rather find innovative ways to make it a sustainable entity.

Today's thought

''The longer you're not taking action the more money you're losing''