Taking to the rails

THROUGHOUT Europe, everyone from business commuters to vacationing backpackers board trains to get where they need to go. Operating a regular schedule with set routes and rates, rail travel has proven to be an integral aspect of public transportation in many European nations.

WHILE what works for one country might not work for another, Ghana does have a railway system in place.

THIS railway system has been allowed to fall into distress, not only affecting hundreds of workers, but also the public transportation industry, both local and national.

THE failure of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) to pay its workers since August 2009, however, is decisive evidence that the rail industry is suffering in Ghana.

BUSES or private cars seem to be the most popular forms of public transportation, especially for the long distances across which railway tracks are currently laid. Unfortunately, this preference only results in road congestion and increased accidents along the road.

IF the GRC is able to get back running, to pay its debts to its workers in the two installments demanded by the Industrial and Labour Division of the High Court, it should be possible to re-propose rail travel as a safe and convenient alternative.

EVEN just using the basic rail lines currently laid traffic along roads and throughout cities could be drastically reduced. There is no doubt that travel via roads will remain the primary method of transport, but some of the pressure on that aspect of public transportation could be relieved with the incorporation of railways.

SINCE the railway infrastructure is already in place, it does not make sense to ignore it as a resource both for the transportation of passengers and of goods. However, much as it is being used now, with a small investment and public awareness, railways could help ease some of the common criticisms that currently accompany public transportation along already-congested roads.