‘Schoolaz’ train completes final test run
Transport Minister Robert Montague said that the revival of the passenger train service to transport schoolchildren was apt and timely, given the current realities.
“We are all excited because we believe that in light of the pandemic,” Montague said.
The train service is expected to begin in time for the new school year, and in anticipation of a return to face-to-face classes.
Montague, in May, announced the restart of the school train service from Old Harbour and Linstead via Spanish Town. He said that the aim was to move students, teachers, healthcare and other essential workers from Old Harbour and Linstead into Spanish Town.
In anticipation of the roll-out, a wide cross-section of stakeholders last Thursday boarded a Jamaica Railway Corporation passenger train for a final test run . The passengers included students and teachers from several St Catherine schools, and representatives of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Ministry of Health and Wellness, St Catherine Municipal Corporation, Jamaica Urban Transit Company, and Jamaica Constabulary Force. They were taken on a round trip from Spanish Town to Linstead, which is one of two routes that the train service will operate. The other is from Old Harbour to Spanish Town.
Montague said that with public passenger vehicles mandated to carry less than the licensed number of passengers under the Disaster Risk Management Act, it will be easier to move students using the rail service, which will supplement the existing public passenger service offerings.
“We have a number of students who we will need to move in a limited time. The train allows us to move more students, more quickly and we can always add additional trips if necessary. Right now, we are planning to do one trip in the morning on each line,” Montague said.