The passenger train plying Douala-Yaounde has fully gone operational after it suspended its services for close to five years to rehabilitate and carry out renovation works following the unfortunate Eseka train derailment in 2016. The Express Train went operational Thursday 1 July 2021 with its inaugural trip from Douala to Yaounde.
Transport minister innaugurates newly acquired wagons, relaunches Dla-Yde express train
The re-launch of activities was officially done at the Yaounde railway station in a ceremony which also saw the inauguration of the four newly acquired locomotives. The event was presided on behalf of the Prime Minister, Head of Government by the Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Masena Ngale Bibehe.
CAMRAIL GM welcomes Minister at Yaounde railway station
Passengers who boarded the inaugural trip express satisfaction with the state-of-the-art wagons, the services offered through the trip and the comfort that came with the renovated wagons.
“My impressions are good and we are happy. We hope it continues smoothly…the services were top class…I didn’t feel any gallop like when one travels on the normal highway…as a preganant woman I don’t even feel tired after the trip,” said Kiven Brenda, one of the passengers.
“The relaunch of the railway is a dream come true. We had long prayed for this to happen. I feel so impressed by the services put in place by CAMRAIL… apart from the transport fare, all is well. We hope competent authorities will take measures to reduce the tariff. We hope it could go down to FCFA 4,000," revealed a local of Makak, Nyong Ekelle Division in the Centre region.
Speaking at the ceremony, Pascal Miny, the General Manager of CAMRAIL – the company charged with railway management in Cameroon, hailed President Paul Biya for the interest shown in the development of the railway sector. He appreciated the role played by all actors to see the dream realised.
CAMRAIL GM
Miny CAMRAIL has taken necessary measures to ensure the health of passengers and workers in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic were their services are relaunched with vaccination centre stationed at its station, while barrier measures against the spread of the virus are scrupulously respected.
CAMRAIL, which is a sub subsidiary of Group Bollore, he said, is an example worth emulating as far as the COVID-19 prevention is concerned with an unwavering commitment in the fight against poverty is unwavering.
In his address delivered in the presence of other top government officials, traditional and administrative authorities among others, Minister Jean Ernest Masena Ngale Bibehe, said it was an occasion to celebrate modern achievement after the suspension of the rail services after the Eseka accident.
He said the four newly acquired locomotives come to add value to the rail service in Cameroon. He said government has contracted an American company to acquired 25 new wagons to complete the project. The minister said government and CAMRAIL are envisaging the addition of three new locomotives to the Yaoundé-Ngaoundere railway route, which will intend boost income and development of host communities.
He expressed the wish for the rail to remain secured, comfortable and sustainable while disclosing government’s intention to ameliorate railway services in Cameroon, and construct new lines passing through Edea-Kribi, Douala-Limbe, Mballam-Kribi and more.
He called on users of the train to portray a citizen like attitude, an attitude which he said will help to preserve this new service. He stated that the government attaches a lot of importance to the development and modernisation of the rail transport sector.
The Express Train links Douala and Yaoundé. It has two minutes stop overs in the localities of Edea, Messondo, Eseka, Makak and Ngoumou. The intermediate stops will make it possible to open up the towns of the hinterland, transport and bring passengers from neighboring villages.
The various stops will allow the company to mark rapprochement with the people living near the railways lines, who, have in the past reproached the company for traveling while ignoring them even though train remains their only and reliable means of transport, officials say.
Fully air-conditioned, the passenger wagons of the Express Train are more comfortable improved security policy on the entire network to comply with international standards. At least 99% of the staff operating throughout the network are Cameroonians who have benefited annual trainings nationally and internationally. CAMRAIL has started major renewals of the railway lines as well.
The railway line will operate daily trips. Takeoffs are scheduled for 6:00 a.m. from Douala and 2:30 p.m. from Yaounde. First class tickets will cost FCFA 10 000 for one way while round trips will cost FCFA 17 000. The premium class will cost FCFA 8 000 for single trip and FCFA 14 000 for round trip.
Also, the company has made reservation of a seat two or more days in advance possible via online platforms – MyCamrail application available on Playstore and IOS, through their website on www.mycamrail.cm, by email through service.voyageurs@camrail.net, and on phone calls through 233 50 26 99/222 22 13 03/650 60 09 40.
The Train Express has wide range advantages notably more comfortable seats with tables, workspaces with sockets to charge your devices throughout the trip, a bar-restaurant area, comfortable armchairs with electrical outlets to charge phones and laptops, discussion spaces for doing business during the trip, TV to follow programs and Wi-fi.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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