The President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, and the Minister of Transport, Makame Mbarawa, have inaugurated the Morogoro – Dodoma SGR (standard gauge railway) which is the extension of the SGR from Morogoro towards the city port of Dar es Salaam. The official ceremony was held on August 1st, 2024 at Dodoma train station.
The 258 km project needed an investment of USD 10 billion (TZS 23.3 trillion) aiming at improving freight and passenger transport services in the country and its rail connections to the neighbouring countries. The new line is reducing the travel time between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma by almost 5.5 hours, from 9 hours to 3.5 hours.
“This railway has many advantages, it will protect the environment, it will increase employment, it will reduce traffic and it will increase the efficiency of the port because of the ability to carry large volumes of cargoes at the same time. I would like to tell my fellow citizens that this SGR project is an important asset for our economy,” the President said.
“Work has also started on other sections totalling 1500 km of lines making Tanzania the first country in Africa to have a long SGR railway that uses energy electricity,” the Minister of Transport said.
The Tanzania Railway Corporation acquired from Hyundai Rotem 19 electric locomotives, 10 eight-car electric multiple units (EMUs), and 89 carriages manufactured by Korean company Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology. The new EMUs are capable of running at 160 km/h and provide a capacity for 590 passengers. The modern trains feature onboard Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, as well as seats at three classes. Including the purchase of 1430 freight wagons, Tanzania Railway Corporation has invested TZS 1.8 trillion (USD 759.9 million) in new rolling stock. Until now, the company has received 17 electric locomotives, 3 electric multiple units and 65 carriages.
The 300 km Dar es Salaam – Morogoro with six stations is the first phase of Tanzania’s SGR network for which construction started in in 2017 and transport services were launched on June 14, 2024.
Morogoro – Dodoma SGR is part of the second phase of Tanzania’s standard gauge rail network ensuring a 422 km rail connection from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.
The standard gauge rail system in Tanzania is implemented into six phases with the remaining sections to be opened between Makutupora and Tabora (294 km), Tabora and Isaka (130 km), Isaka – Mwanza (250 km) and the last one, will connect Tabora and Kigoma on a 506 km long line.
Ultimately, country’s 2,561 km SGR network will provide cross border connections with the neighboring countries of Rwanda, Burundi, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The African Development Bank approved USD 696.5 million for Burundi and Tanzania to build a 651 km railway line and it would provide grants of USD 98.6 million to Burundi and USD 598 million to Tanzania to develop their railway connections, estimated at almost USD 4 billion.
The president also said that the SGR network will strengthen trade relations with countries served by the Central Corridor, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda, fostering growth in other economic sectors.
The construction work for the Makutupora – Tabora connection started in 2022 and is performed by the Turkish company Yapı Merkezi which has to complete the works within 46 months, including testing period.
Also in 2022, the same Turkish company and Tanzania Railways signed an agreement for the construction of the fourth phase between Tabora and Isaka and the construction started at the beginning of 2023. The work and trials should be completed in 48 months.
Recently, the International Development Association has approved USD 200 million for the rail connection to Isaka, that will ensure the train services from Dar es Salaam.
The last two phases are being built by China for which contracts have been signed with Cina Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC) to develop the projects. A contract has been signed in 2021 for the Isaka – Mwanza SGR which is almost 60% completed and at the end of 2022 the contract has been signed for the line between Tabora and Kigoma.
Share on:
