The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Business Reporter
THE National Railways of Zimbabwe will this year run its famous Valentine’s Day special rail leisure steam trains in Bulawayo and Harare on the day of the celebrations next week.
NRZ public relations manager Mr Fanuel Masikati said the train from Bulawayo would travel to Figtree, while the Harare one would make a voyage to Ruwa. Leisure steam trains are popular with international tourists and the NRZ has structured the cost of the Valentine Sashay trains to make it affordable to most people, as the organisation strives to make its rail leisure train services accessible to the majority.
“The NRZ intends to operate this year’s Valentine’s Day trains in a unique way that will establish unforgettable memories for lovers and steam train enthusiasts. The organisation has planned to run two special Rail Leisure Steam trains in Bulawayo and Harare on Sunday 14 February 2016, when the whole world will be celebrating the lovers’ day.
“The Valentine Sashay Trains have been a successful NRZ initiative, not only helping lovers to get closer, but also promoting domestic tourism through rail leisure travel. Both trains will leave their respective stations at 10am and give passengers a leisurely ride of two hours affording them an opportunity to enjoy and view the breath taking scenery along the way in a relaxed atmosphere,” Mr Masikati said.
A ride on the Bulawayo Valentine Sashay Train will cost couples $75 while a single person will pay $40. In Harare the fare will be $100 per couple and $50 per person. The package includes snacks along the way. Drinks will be available on a cash bar basis. For Bulawayo travellers the main event of the day will be at Figtree’s Redwood Leisure Centre from 12.30 pm to 2.30pm, where passengers would be treated to a braai and entertainment. In Ruwa, lunch would be served at the Ruwa Country Club. The trains will depart for the return journeys at 3pm arriving in Bulawayo and Harare at 5 pm.
“To give travellers a feel of what rail travel was years ago, the steam trains consist luxurious museum coaches.
Bookings have already opened and people intending to travel on this day should contact the Reservation Offices at Harare and Bulawayo Stations,” Mr Masikati said.
The Valentine Sashay trains have had successful runs since they were introduced in 2011, as lovers and steam train enthusiasts, both local and foreign, have heartily embraced them. The steam trains provide an opportunity for people to reminisce about the form of rail transport travel in the past years.
Apart from the Valentine Sashay Trains, NRZ runs successful steam leisure trains every year with a number planned to run this year, as the public utility plays its part in promoting tourism in the country. Zimbabwe is one of the remaining countries in the world that still runs and operates steam locomotives that are popular with international steam enthusiasts.
