A new electrified commuter railway in Tanzania aims to revolutionize travel in the traffic-heavy country. On Thursday, it began its inaugural journey between Dar es Salaam and the capital, Dodoma.
Built by a Turkish company, the 273-mile line is part of a larger 2,561-kilometer Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network. This network will connect the north and west of Tanzania to Dar es Salaam, a bustling port city on the Indian Ocean.
The air-conditioned carriages, imported from South Korea, feature built-in WiFi and have already garnered a following. Travelers, tired of the old, diesel-spewing buses, are excited about this modern alternative.
“We have come a long way to have this service,” said Ruben Mtaita as he departed Dar es Salaam. “We are making history.”
The first line, connecting the Morogoro region to Dar es Salaam, was launched last month. It was also built by Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi.
The Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) plans to run daily trips between Dodoma and Dar es Salaam. This will cut the usual bus trip duration by more than half, reducing it to about three and a half hours.
Analysts believe the rail system will offer a safe and reliable travel option for Tanzania’s growing population. It will also help cut carbon emissions and curb noise and air pollution.
Abel Kinyondo, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, praised the railway as “the green way to conserve the environment by cutting vehicle-led pollution.”
This project is a cornerstone of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s transformation plan ahead of national elections next year. It highlights the country’s rapid economic growth.
“We have waited for this service for a long time but finally we are starting. For us, this is a milestone,” TRC head Masanja Kadogosa told reporters. “Both business and regular classes are full and many people missed tickets.”
The state-owned agency said it would increase the frequency of trips based on demand.
Donald Mmari, executive director of the Tanzanian poverty alleviation research think-tank REPOA, hopes the electric train will reduce the number of buses on the same route.
Zakaria Nundi, traveling with eight others on the debut trip from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, expressed cautious optimism: “I hope the train will be reliable.”
Tanzania’s railway system currently has two networks. One links the nation to Zambia, and the other connects to Kenya and Uganda. In December 2022, Tanzania signed a $2.2 billion contract with a Chinese company to build the final section of the SGR line. This line aims to link the country’s main port with its neighbors.
“Upon completion of the SGR, Tanzania will be in a better position to utilize its strategic geographical positioning to facilitate cross-border trade,” Hassan said.
The project, due to be completed in 2026, nine years after it began, will eventually have extensions to Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Tanzania’s investment in the SGR has now reached around $10 billion, including the latest contract.
China is Africa’s biggest investor, injecting billions of dollars into infrastructure projects like railroads, ports, and airports. These investments secure oil and commodity supplies such as copper and cobalt.
The new railway is expected to transform travel in Tanzania, offering a modern, reliable, and environmentally friendly alternative to the outdated bus system. This development marks a significant milestone in the country’s infrastructure and economic growth, paving the way for enhanced cross-border trade and connectivity.
Source: The Guardian
