Safe Boda, Uganda Railways Corporation in partnership to purchase online tickets in new expansion drive.
Drake Nyamugabwa
In addition to Uganda Railways Corporation’s current single-passenger train route from Kampala to Namanve, the Corporation is to add three new passenger train routes under a new arrangement where passengers will have to buy tickets using SafeBoda and Easy Matatu apps and access information on planned train schedules and unprecedented delays in scheduling.
This will witness Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) rehabilitating railway routes in the Kampala Metropolitan adding more 300 city passengers on a daily basis.
The Chief Commercial Cfficer, URC, Jessica Bakabazira, while speaking at the launch of a pilot project dubbed “Tutambule Ffena” said the expansion plan is meant to extend passenger services to Mukono, Kyengera Kampala, Namboole, Namanve stations and Port Bell areas aimed at offering passengers the much-needed first and last mile to and from the train at specified terminals.
“This will involve the construction of concrete sleeper lines to those areas and procurement of Diesel Multiple Units. We shall also have more coaches procured to serve these areas,” she said, noting that the first phase of constructing and renovating the new routes will commence next month (April) starting with the Kampala- Mukono line, during which passenger service will be transferred to the Kampala-Port Bell route.
The Country Director for SafeBoda Uganda Catherine, Tulina Kafumbe, , said that they will be providing a payment system through which passengers will be able to purchase train tickets but also provide transport services.
“This initiative is aimed at improving ease and convenience while purchasing train tickets in order to shorten queues at the railway stations. Complementing these efforts, SafeBoda has positioned riders near the train stations to ease passengers’ access to transportation to and from their various destinations,”Kafumbe said.
Easy Matatu CEO, Andrew Lema said the partnership underscores the role of using digital platforms to improve the transport sector and address the issue of high costs of long-distance trips, long duration spent in transit and limited access to digital payment methods.
“Redefining public transport is at the heart of Easy Matatu’s mission and we this partnership will allow us do that. This partnership will create a template for other ecosystem players to collaboratively improve Uganda’s transportation system to further foster economic growth through access to affordable and reliable transportation and job creation,” Lema said
