Accra, July 24, GNA - The Accra-Tema railway transport for passengers would begin by the end of September of this year.

Briefing the media at the Meet-the-Press series on Tuesday, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railway said the rehabilitation of the line was progressing steadily saying, "We are on the verge of commencing test-runs on the line.

"A host of technical and engineering problems have compelled us to review the date for the commencement of full passenger operations," he said.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said 20 coaches and a locomotive at the main yard of the Ghana Railway Company at Takoradi, which were refurbished, had been moved to Accra Railway Station awaiting a test run on the rehabilitated Accra-Tema line.

The sector Ministry has also initiated arrangements to procure two set Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) to also ply the line. This means that the commuter services would be operated using the DMUs where each unit or train would consist of a diesel engine with normal transmission for the wheels for traction and trailing coaches. Comparatively, the DMUs have certain inherent advantages over locomotives and coaches such as the built in system to allow frequent stoppage at short intervals, provision of quick acceleration and deceleration.
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said government's intensive effort aimed at attracting investors had started yielding fruits.
He announced that cabinet had approved for the Ministry to negotiate an agreement with M/S Kampac Oil of the United Arab Emirates for the rehabilitation and extension of the Western Corridor Railway lines.
He said the project involves 800-kilometre rail line from Takoradi to Hamile in the Upper West. It would also include a new standard gauge line to start from Takoradi through Manso, Tarkwa, Huni Valley, Dunkwa Awaso, Nyinahin, Sunyani, Techiman, Bole, Sawla and Wa to Hamile.
For the Eastern Line, the Minister said the agreement which was signed a few months ago with M/S Peatrack Limited to cover the design, building, operating and transfer for the reconstruction, expansion and operation of a modern rail network between Accra/Tema and Paga had a concessionary period of 35 years.
He said Atlantic Companies Incorporated; an engineering group from the United States had also expressed interest in the Sub-Urban Railway system in the metropolitan areas of Accra-Tema, Sekondi-Takoradi under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.
When arrangements were finalised the group would construct, supervise and operate the suburban Railway System in the metropolis. 24 July 07