In addition to the four trains destined for Huíla, the provinces of Namibe and Cubango will also benefit from two trains each.
Each train is capable of carrying up to 700 passengers, representing a considerable increase in rail traffic volume in the south of the country, said António Coelho da Cruz, who, quoted by Angop, also stated that renovations are currently underway in the workshops to accommodate the trains, with the works nearly complete, with completion reaching approximately 98 percent.
For the president of CFM, speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the company by Huíla Governor Nuno Mahapi, the new trains will provide better conditions for users and meet the growing demand for rail transportation, especially in the suburban segment.
Quoted by Angop, he also stated that, operationally, CFM ensures the stability of the rail service thanks to the efforts of the technical teams that ensure equipment maintenance and daily train operation.
In turn, the governor of Huíla province wants granite and fuel to be transported exclusively by CFM. According to Nuno Mahapi, it is necessary for granite and fuel to be transported exclusively by CFM trains so that the state can begin to recoup the investment made in the company's recovery.
Currently, both granite and fuel are transported mostly by road. According to Angop, granite is currently transported to the Port of Namibe on a small scale through CFM, with the majority being transported by road, which has been damaging the tarmac due to frequent falling blocks and causing disasters. Meanwhile, fuel from Namibe to Huíla and Cubango is mostly transported by tanker trucks, although trains also contribute their share.
In this sense, the governor considered it necessary to strengthen and regulate the transportation of granite to Namibe, leveraging rail transport, in order to stimulate the local economy and ensure greater efficiency in the mining sector's logistics chain.
Making full use of railway capacity is essential for transporting ornamental rocks extracted from various areas of the province, especially given the proximity and strategic connection to the Port of Namibe, the governor stated. Cited by Angop, he also noted that the CFM has technical, human, and logistical resources that need to be better utilized to assist in this effort.
Among other aspects, he also highlighted the need to monitor the increase in vandalism of public property, particularly signaling cables and railway infrastructure, which he considered "an abnormality that is becoming normal."
