The Ghana Railway Company (GRC) last year generated over 1.2 billion cedis from its shuttle operations between Accra and Nsawam, with more than one million passengers accessing the service.

Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport, who announced this on Tuesday said the service, was fast establishing itself as the most popular mode of travelling between Accra and Nsawam because of its speed and safety compared to road transport.

He said there were plans to introduce similar transit system within the Accra-Tema corridor as well as some limited services in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis to complement the road-based public transport services. A similar shuttle service was already serving the people on the Ejisu-Kumasi corridor, he said.

The Minister was addressing the 'meet the press series' said the company last year hauled 1.6 million tonnes of goods comprising mainly cocoa, timber, bauxite and manganese compared to 1.55 million in 2001. He said the company would in the future operate a container service from the ports of Takoradi and Tema to the Boankra Inland Port Project when it is completed. He said a project to involve the Railway Company in the transportation of petroleum products from Tema to Kumasi for storage and distribution to the Northern and Western sectors of the country is under consideration.

Dr Anane said in view of the importance government attached to rail transport, it had appointed an adviser to assist it to implement the modernization and expansion of the country's railway network. He said the expansion project when completed would allow the extension of railway services to neighbouring countries in fulfilment of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) initiative.