CFM Auto-Motora Service: Billing system problems cause inconvenience

Users of the Mozambique Railways (CFM) rail service continue to face difficulties with the fare collection system. Last week, for example, a passenger on the Tchumene - Km 15 Station route saw the full fare charged twice in a single direction (Bus-Rail-Bus). According to the source, when confronted, CFM's fare collection services acknowledged a system failure.

To make matters worse, on Tuesday users who rely on cards found themselves in trouble. The cards that had been validated on the connecting bus were not accepted for purchasing tickets for the train at the Central Station in downtown Maputo. Consequently, everyone was forced to pay in cash to ensure their journey. This problem is particularly critical given the short boarding time, as the train departs in just a few minutes (5 to 7 minutes), creating a stressful and uncomfortable situation.

Furthermore, there is a flaw in the validation system inside the train. Although passengers can validate their card on board, the equipment does not issue a physical ticket. This situation undermines passenger safety, as it is mandatory to show the ticket to security personnel upon disembarking at Central Station. As a result, several embarrassing situations have already been recorded in which passengers, having lost their ticket or being unable to prove payment, are forced to purchase a new one.

Given these facts, the users – mostly minors who live in Matola and study in the city of Maputo, using prepaid cards – are demanding that the service provider urgently improve the billing system in order to avoid these repeated inconveniences, we quote.