CLAIM: Mauritius had no train in 2018
SOURCE: Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa on his social media accounts.
VERDICT: TRUE, that Southern Africa island nation reopened its railways in 2019
Claims made by opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa on Twitter here and on Facebook here are true.
In both the social media platforms, Chamisa’s post reads, “When I promised Bullet Trains for Zimbabwe in 2018, Mauritius, a country in SADC, didn’t have a train. Today #Isee they have one. Leadership makes things happen. It’s doable. Visionary leadership enables it all. The Metro Express is a light rail public transport system in Mauritius. We will deliver even better in a New Great Zimbabwe. Come let’s do it! #ngaapinde #Kangene #ngaanjile,”
Even though a railway system existed in that country from the 1860s until 1964. In 1956, a decision was made to close the railway owing to what authorities called unprofitability. By then, they had 47 locomotives and 146 km of 1,435 mm track. Freight transport continued until 1964 when the railway was scrapped.
Fast forward to 2017, Mauritius Metro Express was born. It’s railway line passes through the country’s five major cities including Curepipe, Vacoas, Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and the Capital Port Louis.
Mauritius however does not have a bullet train. It’s train travels distances ranging between 35 to 80 kilometers per hour.
Bullet trains are a type of train that runs at extremely high speeds using an integrated system of specialized rolling stock and dedicated tracks.
Last year, Nigeria’s Red Line metro project with trains travelling in speeds of 330 kilometers per hour was judged to have the fastest trains in Africa. Other countries with quick trains include Morocco, Egypt, South Africa and Tunisia
CONCLUSION: Claim that Mauritius had no trains in 2018 is true: however, they previously had trains before in their history.
