Harare — THE National Railways of Zimbabwe will today introduce additional commuter train services to cater for schoolchildren and shoppers in Bulawayo and Harare -- a move that will cushion people from soaring transport costs.

NRZ spokesperson Mr Fanuel Masikati said the move offered an opportunity for people who may want to travel during off-peak hours.

"We would like to advise the public that with effect from Monday next week, we would be introducing additional commuter train services to cater for other people who do not want to get into town during the morning rush hour," he said.

"The services are convenient for informal traders, shoppers and schoolchildren."

In Harare, the Marimba, Ruwa and Dzivaresekwa trains depart from the city to these city routes at 8am and arrive around 9am.

The same trains would depart the locations after 9am and reach Harare around 10am.

In the afternoon, the trains leave the city station to the locations around 2pm and return to town shortly after 4pm.

Luveve and Umganwini trains in Bulawayo leave the railway station before 8am.

The same trains will be expected to get back to the town around 9am.

Afternoon trains depart the main station around 2.30pm and reach the locations round about 3.20pm.

The trains would ferry other commuters to the city and arrive at about 4.20pm.

Mr Masikati said his company had increased commuter fares from between $500 and $700 per trip to between $1 000 and 1 500.

The fare increases were reasonable compared to fares charged by commuter omnibus operators.