First phase of Tanzania’s SGR rail project going ‘live’ in July

In a strong boost for the Tanzanian supply chain, this will reduce travel time between the cities to about two hours. Currently it takes around five hours on the old metre-gauge railway line, or four hours by bus. 

There were successful trials on the line in February 2024, with Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) Director General, Masanja Kadogosa, saying at the time that it marked a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to modernise its transportation infrastructure and boost connectivity across the nation. 

The country is working to replace the aged and now inefficient meter-gauge railway system established during the colonial East African Railways era. 

Ultimate aim is to connect with neighbouring countries 

Apart from enhancing the supply chain capacity within Tanzania by carrying more passengers and heavier goods loads, the SGR’s aim is to ultimately connect Tanzania with neighbouring Burundi and the DRC to foster improved regional trade and integration. 

The 300km Dar es Salaam-Morogoro line is the first phase of the project. Other phases within Tanzania will connect to Mwanza on the shores of Lake Victoria, and Kigoma on the northeastern shores of Lake Tanganyika. 

“This development is particularly welcome given the project’s history of persistent delays since 2017,” reported African Business magazine recently. 

According to Xinhua news agency, the South Korean-made train, coupled with the Turkish-Chinese-built railway line, is poised to become one of Africa’s most advanced cargo and passenger rail systems, capable of reaching speeds of up to 160km/h. 

Phase Two of the line will run from Morogoro to Makutupora, a distance of 422km. Stage three is from Makutupora to Tabora, a distance of 294km.