Latra inspects SGR ahead of start of services in July
The aim is to ensure all SGR infrastructures and equipment are certified for passengers safety. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Latra has instructed TRC to address a few remaining issues, especially since the upcoming inspection in May will be the final one.
Dar es Salaam. The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) has conducted an inspection of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro, paving the way for the service to commence in July this year.
The inspection, which focused on verifying the standards of locomotives and coaches is part of a series of such exercises that precede the official commencement of SGR operations.
Latra’s acting director for railway regulation, Mr Hanya Mbawala, stated that the aim is to ensure all SGR infrastructures and equipment are certified for passengers safety.
"The Railways Act of 2017 provides an opportunity and responsibility for Latra to inspect newly constructed mega infrastructures and certify the equipment. Today, we have observed and inspected the train. Next time, when we return in May, we will plan the trips and certify the quality of the train," he said.
Mr Mbawala explained that one of the operating conditions for the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) to apply for an operating transport licence, TRC has done that already and Latra has received and processed the application.
So far, the progress is going well, and TRC will soon be granted a license to begin providing its services.
He emphasized that Latra has instructed TRC to address a few remaining issues, especially since the upcoming inspection in May will be the final one.
After this inspection, the corporation will be awarded a certification to commence the SGR operations.
“We have directed the TRC to communicate with the railway track contractor and supplier of coaches to make various adjustments for improvements. This is standard procedure in Commissioning before conducting final tests to confirm that the required performance parameters are met. Therefore, it is a process that requires several checks on technical aspects,” he said.
He also mentioned: "I urge the public to be prepared to use electronic tickets, as this will enable them to pay the approved fares."
Latra’s manager for competition and tariffs, Fahamuel Mnkeni said that Latra has already gone through the TRC’S proposed fares. The fares to be announced will include every stakeholders blessing.
March this year, Latra’s director general Habibu Suluo told The Citizen that the fares for the electric train between Dar es Salaam to Morogoro will be disclosed in April.
The director general said the authority will announce the proposed fares through its board of directors.
“The fares to be announced will be have the full blessings of all stakeholders, wananchi, including Latra CCC and TRC,” he said.
Latra’s chair board of directors Ahmed Mohamed Ame said that by they are optimistic that by May everything will finalized and SGR will starting operating before July.
