Tanzania has inaugurated Eastern Africa’s first electric train, marking a significant advancement in the region’s transportation infrastructure. On its maiden voyage, the train transported 1,400 passengers from the coastal city of Dar es Salaam to Morogoro, covering a distance of 300 kilometres (186 miles).
This state-of-the-art electric standard-gauge railway project, featuring cutting-edge electric and signalling systems, was celebrated as a monumental achievement. Türkiye-based company Yapi Merkezi, responsible for constructing four of the five sections of Tanzania’s extensive railway project spanning over 1,000 kilometres, successfully completed the first segment.
M. Firat Aygen, Project Manager at Yapi Merkezi, highlighted the transformative potential of the new railway, describing it as the first step towards a broader transportation revolution in the region. Masanja Kadogosa, General Manager of Tanzania Railways Corporation, emphasised the project’s significance for economic growth and transportation efficiency across Tanzania and Eastern Africa. The initial journey reduced the travel time between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro to just two hours.
The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station in Dar es Salaam, with its shimmering facade of sky-blue glass panels, resembles an opulent airport terminal. Inside, escalators glide passengers to various levels, offering panoramic views of the bustling terminal below. The station is designed with passenger comfort in mind, featuring state-of-the-art ticketing counters and plush waiting lounges equipped with charging ports and other amenities.
The electric train project, valued at nearly $2 billion, is expected to significantly enhance domestic connectivity, trade, and economic opportunities with neighbouring landlocked countries such as Uganda and Rwanda. The entire SGR route will extend from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, a port city on the shore of Lake Victoria, and Kigoma, near the border with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This route will cover nearly 1,300 kilometres (810 miles).
On 1 July, the completed section from Dar es Salaam to the capital Dodoma, running approximately 460 kilometres (285 miles), was officially inaugurated, marking another milestone in Tanzania’s journey towards modernising its transportation infrastructure.
The Southern African Times
