Tanzania unveils new era of rail transportation

Tanzania inaugurated its first electrified commuter railway on Thursday, marking a significant step towards modernizing the country’s transportation infrastructure.

The 440-kilometer line, constructed by a Turkish company, connects the bustling commercial hub of Dar es Salaam with the capital city, Dodoma.

This new railway is part of a larger ambitious project to develop a 2,561-kilometer Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network across Tanzania. The goal is to link the country’s northern and western regions to the vital Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam.

The air-conditioned trains, equipped with Wi-Fi, offer a stark contrast to the overcrowded and often unreliable bus services that currently dominate the country’s transportation landscape.

Excited passengers praised the new service, hailing it as a much-needed improvement. “We have come a long way to have this service,” said Ruben Mtaita, a commuter departing Dar es Salaam. “We are making history.”

The Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) plans to operate daily trips between Dodoma and Dar es Salaam, significantly reducing travel time compared to the traditional bus journey.

Experts believe the railway will not only provide a safer and more reliable transportation option for Tanzania’s growing population but also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions, noise, and air pollution.

The launch of this new railway aligns with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision for Tanzania’s development and comes ahead of the country’s national elections next year.

As the project progresses, Tanzania aims to become a regional transportation hub. The government has signed a $2.2 billion contract with a Chinese company to build the final section of the SGR, connecting the country to neighboring nations. Upon completion in 2026, the railway network will also extend to Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

With a total investment of approximately $10 billion in the SGR project, Tanzania is positioning itself as a key player in regional trade and economic growth.

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