CFM becomes the "lifeline" for Matola and Boane

The public transport crisis in Maputo has a new face. With MetroBus struggling with regularity and the costs of private transport weighing heavily on family budgets, the old lady of the rails has re-emerged as the main alternative. The Mozambique Railways (CFM) railcar, which connects Matola and Boane to the heart of the capital, has become the morning solution for thousands of workers and students. However, the sudden increase in demand has exposed the weaknesses of the service, which now faces the challenge of overcrowding and a lack of capacity to handle the crowds that depend on its carriages every morning to reach their destination on time.

At a time when MetroBus is facing its worst regularity crisis, disrupting schedules and frustrating users, the population of the municipal districts of Matola and Boane has been forced to rediscover an old acquaintance: the train. This morning, the Preto & Branco newspaper spoke with several users who shared their experiences.

For many, joining Automotora was immediate, almost natural. First, because of the promotional prices that made it a direct and advantageous competitor to buses. Then, because of the efficiency of a service that, despite some initial billing errors, quickly established itself as a reliable option. However, the success brought an undesirable side effect: overcrowding.

"Lately, the train has been running completely full. The constant contact between passengers and the conductor is so intense that the carriage becomes a real breeding ground for respiratory and infectious diseases," warned one of the passengers interviewed by our reporter.

The situation is aggravated by internal logistics. For example, many of those disembarking at Machava are not even charged, simply because the fare collector cannot move through the crowd to reach them. This disorganization, coupled with concerns about public health, has raised alarm among users.

In response to this situation, passengers already have a clear demand. They propose that CFM increase the service, going from one to two trains at 7:00 AM, departing from Matola Gare towards Maputo. The objective is simple: to accommodate everyone safely, ensuring that students and workers can reach their places of study or work by 7:30 AM.

It is important to remember that Matola has established itself as Maputo's commuter town, growing rapidly due to residential expansion caused by the high cost of rent in the capital. In this sense, the dynamics of the "giant" CFM, within the scope of its social responsibility, should keep pace with this demographic evolution.

Aware that the current railcar system cannot simply increase the number of carriages, users are unanimous: the only viable solution to speed up passenger flow during peak hours would be to allocate another train. The question that remains is whether CFM (the Mozambican railway company) will be able to meet this new logistical challenge before the solution becomes a new problem.