 | ||
| Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current operator | Tanzania Railways Corporation | |
| Reporting mark | TRC | |
| Locale | Tanzanian mainland | |
| Technical | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 81⁄2 in) standard gauge | |
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary | |
| Length | 1,800 km (1,100 mi) | |
| ||
Tanzania SGR: Connecting Nations, Transforming Trade
Overview
The Tanzania SGR is a railway system that’s currently under construction and partially operational. Its grand vision? To link Tanzania with neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Imagine a network of rails stretching across East Africa, facilitating efficient movement of goods and people. 🌍
Replacing the Old with the New
The SGR aims to bid farewell to the old, inefficient meter-gauge railway system. You know, the kind that chugs along at a leisurely pace, making you wonder if it’s powered by steam and dreams. Instead, the new SGR embraces the modern standard gauge—a sleek 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) track width that’s the global norm for high-speed railways. 🚄
Key Routes and Ambitions
Dar es Salaam–Morogoro Section (Phase 1)
This initial phase covers approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Dar es Salaam (Tanzania’s bustling port city) to Morogoro.
The consortium of Yapi Merkezi (from Turkey) and Mota-Engil (from Portugal) took charge of this stretch.
Picture six stations: Dar es Salaam, Pugu, Soga, Ruvu, Ngerengere, and Morogoro.
Passenger trains are expected to zip along at 160 km/h (99 mph), while cargo trains will cruise at 120 km/h (75 mph).
Fun fact: The first passenger service on this section was inaugurated on June 14, 2024! 🎉
Morogoro–Makutopora Section (Phase 2)
Stretching approximately 426 kilometers (265 miles), this phase connects Morogoro to Makutopora in the Singida Region.
Funding for this section came via a soft loan from Standard Chartered Bank.
The stations along the way include Mkata, Kilosa, Kidete, Gulwe, Igunda, Dodoma, Bahi, and Makutopora.
As of May 2024, construction was nearly 97% complete. 🏗️
Electrification and Efficiency
The SGR isn’t just about steel tracks; it’s electrified! Overhead catenaries power the locomotives, making them more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. 🌱
Beyond Borders
The SGR isn’t just about Tanzania—it’s about regional integration. It’s like the railway version of a group hug. 🤗 Once fully operational, it’ll facilitate seamless movement of goods between Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and the DRC. Plus, ferries will shuttle cargo across Lake Victoria to Uganda’s capital, Kampala. 🚢
So there you have it—a glimpse into the transformative journey of the Tanzania SGR. Next time you hear the distant whistle of a train, imagine it hurtling along these modern rails, connecting nations and dreams.
Construction phases
The railway system consists of several major phases:
Phase 1
- Dar es Salaam–Morogoro Section
The first phase covers a distance of 300 kilometres (186 mi), from the city Dar es Salaam to Morogoro.[8]
This section was contracted to a 50/50 consortium comprising Yapi Merkezi of Turkey and Mota-Engil of Portugal. Construction began in April 2017 and Yapi Merkezi have been showing the progress of construction with monthly video reports on YouTube.[2] Partial funding for this section, amounting to US$1.2 billion, was borrowed from the Export Cr Bank of Turkey.[9] There are six stations: Dar es Salaam, Pugu, Soga, Ruvu, Ngerengere and Morogoro. Three trains will make daily round trips.[10]
With infrastructure complete electrical tests [11] and live train trials began in late April, 2022. Passenger service on the section was inaugurated on 14 June 2024.[12]
Phase 2
Morogoro–Makutopora Section
The second phase covers a distance of approximately 426 kilometres (265 mi),[13] from Morogoro via Dodoma to Makutopora in Manyoni District, Singida Region.[14] In September 2018, the government of Tanzania secured a US$1.46 billion soft loan from Standard Chartered Bank for the funding of this stretch.[9] The section was also contracted to the consortium that is constructing the Dar es Salaam–Morogoro Section. The stations after Morogoro will be Mkata, Kilosa, Kidete, Gulwe, Igunda, Dodoma, Bahi and Makutopora.
As of May 2024, the work was reported as having reached 96.73% completion.[15] The section is expected to open to passenger service in July 2024.[12] Passenger service between Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Dodoma began July 25, 2024.[16]
Phase 3 (aka phase 3, lot 1)
Makutopora–Tabora Section
The third phase runs from Makutopora to Tabora, including 7 stations and 294 kilometers of mainline and 74 kilometers of intersections, for a total of 368 kilometers at a cost of US$1.9 billion (TZS 4.41 trillion). The contract has been awarded to Yapi Merkezi, which has constructed the first two phases. The foundation stone was placed in April, 2022 with work to start immediately.[17] In 2023, the section was 67% completed when Yapi Merkezi reportedly began having financial troubles.[18]
Tabora–Isaka Section
The fourth phase will cover Tabora to Isaka, a distance of 130 kilometres (81 mi). As of August 2022, the Tabora–Isaka section has been awarded to Yapi Merkezi[19] and work is in the mobilization stage. In January 2023, The Citizen newspaper reported that construction on the section has begun.[20] In October 2023, the section was 17% completed.[21]
Phase 5
Isaka–Mwanza Section
This section, measuring approximately 341 kilometres (212 mi), runs from Isaka to the city of Mwanza, on the southern shores of Lake Victoria. In January 2021, The Citizen newspaper reported that two Chinese companies had been selected to construct this section of the SGR. China Civil Engineering Construction (CCEC) and China Railway Construction Company (CRCC) were selected to carry out the work at a contract price of approximately TZS:3 trillion (approx. US$1.3 billion).[22] Later that month, The East African reported that Tanzania had secured funding worth US$1.32 billion through the Government of China, for the purpose of building this section of the SGR.[23] The section is under construction.[24] In May 2024, the section has reportedly reached 57.08% completion.[21]
Phase 6
Tabora–Kigoma
This section, measuring approximately 506 kilometres (314 mi), runs from Tabora to Kigoma on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika. The contract was signed on December 20, 2022, between the Government of Tanzania and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway Construction Company (CRCC) for the construction of the railway.[25][26]
Further planned phases
- Isaka–Rusumo Section
This stretch of the SGR is component of the Isaka–Kigali Standard Gauge Railway, and measures approximately 371 kilometres (231 mi). Construction of this section is budgeted at US$942 million.[27] In April 2018, the EastAfrican newspaper reported that the World Bank had expressed its willingness to fund the Isaka–Kigali Standard Gauge Railway.[1]
Uvinza–Malagarasi Section
In January 2022, the governments of Tanzania and Burundi signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a SGR line connecting the two countries.[28] As part of the Tanzania–Burundi Standard Gauge Railway, 180 kilometres of railway will be constructed from Uvinza, off the Tabora–Kigoma line, to the Malagarasi river on the border. On the Burundian side, a second section of 187 kilometres will link the border town of Musongati to the capital Gitega. Initial cost was estimated at US$900 million.
Mtwara–Mbamba Bay Railway
A railway in southern Tanzania, linking the Indian Ocean to Lake Malawi, was first proposed in the 2000s. In November 2023, the Tanzanian government revived the project, seeking funding at an investor conference in Morocco and securing US$2.2 billion of interest in the project. Tanzania is looking for total funding of US$5.6 billion and a public-private partnership. The new railway will run for 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) from the coastal port of Mtwara to Mbamba Bay on the eastern shore of Lake Malawi, traversing regions rich in iron-ore, coal and graphite. It will also serve proposed coal and iron ore mines in Mchuchuma and Liganga.
Funding
Up until February 2020, the government of Tanzania was using locally generated funds and short-term temporary loans to fund the construction of the first two phases of this standard gauge railway project.[32]
In February 2020, the government received a syndicated loan worth US$1.46 billion towards the completion of the first two phases of the national SGR. The financing package featured Standard Chartered as lead arranger and the Export Cr Agencies of Denmark and Sweden as major funding sources.[33] The combined contract value for the first two phases is US$2.35 billion with US$950 million worth of funding to be organized by the Tanzania Ministry of Finance and the remaining US$1.45 billion by Yapı Merkezi.
The African Development Bank has pledged US$3.05 billion towards the link from Tabora to Kigoma as well as the stretch from Uvinza to the Burundian border.
In October 2023, the EastAfrican reported that Yapi Merkezi has run into financing problems and is seeking an additional US$1.8 billion to complete lots 3 and 4.
In November 2023, the managing director of TRC told media that the agency had secured at least US$2.2 billion of interest in the Mtwara–Mbamba Bay railway project.
Locomotives
ÖBB 1014
The first operating locos on the SGR are second-hand Austrian Federal Railways class 1014 model electric locomotives. These are primarily used for testing.[35] In addition, TRC has contracted with Korean firms Hyundai Rotem and Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology for the supply of 17 SGR locomotive engines, 59 accompanying carriages and 10 electric multiple units (EMUs).On 30 December 2023, TRC took delivery of three locomotives as well as 27 passenger carriages (13 business class and 14 economy class carriages), bringing the total number of received carriages to 56. The EMU trainsets are expected to be delivered in batches between March and October 2024.