Commuters from Takoradi to Tarkwa, heaved a sigh of relief Tuesday when the passenger train service commenced work after 12 years break.

The Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) had in an earlier release said rehabilitation works on the railway line have been completed and free rides will be available from Takoradi to Tarkwa on January 28, 30 and 31.

”Several successful test runs with the Ghana Railway Development Authority have also been conducted. In light of this, GRCL will provide free passenger service from Takoradi to Tarkwa. 

“We wish to also indicate that currently, the Western Line is being developed and occasionally there will be the need for GRCL to stop operations to enable the contractor do some civil works on the line,” the company said in a statement.

Although commercial service will begin on February 5, the excitement on the faces of residents who boarded the train for the first time was evident.

By 6:15 am, the train had departed from the Takoradi station to Tarkwa with the first batch of passengers and is expected to depart from the Tarkwa station back to Takoradi at 3:00 pm.

The train had on board representatives from the Ministry of Railways Development, Ghana Railway Company Limited, Ghana Railway Workers Union as well as some technical team and administrative staff of GRCL.