Passengers will require IDs to book SGR train tickets to end fraud says TRC

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has put in place several measures to combat fraud in the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) electric-powered train ticketing process.

Among these measures is the requirement for passengers to use their National Identification Card (NIDA) when purchasing tickets.

Additionally, tickets will be scanned both when passengers board the train and upon their arrival at the final destination.

TRC's Head of Communications, Jamila Mbarouk, announced on Friday, August 16, that they discovered some dishonest individuals have been buying tickets and reselling them at inflated prices.

She emphasised that passengers must have their tickets scanned during boarding and after reaching their destination to prevent any fraudulent activities.

"Passengers will not be allowed to purchase tickets for friends or relatives unless they have the identification cards of those individuals,” she said.

 Ms Mbarouk stated further stressed that anyone buying tickets for others must have their IDs, which will be verified and respective passengers be scanned when boarding the train.

Ms  Mbarouk also mentioned that several individuals involved in fraudulent activities have already been traced and arrested, with some set to appear in court.

She assured the public that TRC will continue to address various technological challenges to ensure the efficient operation of the SGR.

On Thursday, the anti-graft body PCCB announced that it had uncovered another rot involving passengers who book tickets for shorter routes such as Soga, Pugu and Ruvu but do not disembark and instead continue without paying the additional fare.