Trains on the new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line will operate at an average speed of 160 km/h, significantly reducing travel time between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro.
The rail authority estimates the current journey takes approximately 4 hours by bus and 5 hours on the old railway line, compared to 1 hour and 45 minutes on the SGR.
Inaugural Electric Train Service
Tanzania launched its electric train service on the first segment of the SGR network over the weekend. This long-awaited project, under development since 2017, now connects Dar es Salaam and Morogoro with a 300 km line.
Transforming Transportation Infrastructure
“The increased train speed dramatically reduces travel times, facilitating the efficient movement of goods and people throughout the country,” stated Masanja Kadogosa, Director General of the Tanzania Railways Corporation. “This is a significant advancement in Tanzania’s transportation infrastructure, promising to improve connectivity and efficiency, and boost economic growth.”
Expansion Plans Underway
Several other sections are under construction to extend the SGR network to the Rwandan border. The current phase of the project involves constructing 1,219 km of modern railways to replace the meter-gauge tracks built during the colonial era.
Regional Connectivity
A further phase of the plan aims to expand the network to approximately 2,561 km, connecting Rwanda and other landlocked neighboring countries like Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Uganda, which are important clients of the port of Dar es Salaam.