The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) began its inaugural trial journey of the electric Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro on February 26, 2024.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan directed that the SGR train service from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma should begin in July of this year.
Tanzania has been delaying its implementation since April 2017.
“I have been hearing about changes in the start dates for train services via the SGR railway from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, and indeed, citizens are tired of excuses; they want to see the railway in operation. Therefore, I direct that by the end of July 2024, SGR railway services between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma must have commenced,” said the president.
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The test represents a significant step forward in Tanzania’s efforts to modernize its transportation infrastructure and improve nationwide connectivity.
Countries Behind Tanzania’s Electric Train
Tanzania intends to replace the rather old and inefficient meter-gauge railway system built during the colonial East African Railways.
The South Korean-built train, combined with the Turkish/Chinese-built railway line, is set to become one of Africa’s most advanced cargo and passenger rail systems, capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour.
This increased speed will significantly reduce travel times and enable the efficient movement of goods and people throughout Tanzania.
Upon commissioning, the SGR trains, with an average speed of 160km/h, will cut the travel time between Dar and Morogoro to about two hours from the current four-hour bus trip and five-hour train journey on the old meter gauge railway.
Electric Train Main Centres
The SGR project, which is anticipated to be completed in five phases, will begin with the 300 km Dar-Morogoro line and extend up to Mwanza on the shores of Lake Victoria and Kigoma on the northeastern coasts of Lake Tanganyika.
As part of the East African Railway Master Plan, connections to Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are planned.
The second phase of the SGR project spans 422 kilometers, from Morogoro to Makutupora. Phase three involves extending the railroad 294 km to Tabora.
The fourth phase will connect Tabora to Isaka, a 130-kilometer line that will branch to Mwanza and Kigoma.
Additional reporting by The Citizen
