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Tanzania Railways Corporation misses five-year passenger transport target by 72 percent
What you need to know:
- According to the Controller and Auditor General (CAG), Mr Charles Kichere, TRC had set out to transport over 10 million passengers between 2019/20 and 2023/24.
Moshi. The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has transported just 28 percent of its projected passenger numbers in Dar es Salaam over the last five years, falling significantly short of its strategic target.
According to the Controller and Auditor General (CAG), Mr Charles Kichere, TRC had set out to transport over 10 million passengers between 2019/20 and 2023/24.
However, only 3,053,428 commuters used its services by June 30, 2024—a shortfall of over 7.6 million passengers, or 72 percent.
Presenting his annual audit report to Parliament in Dodoma on April 16, 2025, the CAG attributed the poor performance to increasing competition from new city bus routes and the relocation of major terminals to Kamata and Kariakoo.
He also cited the lack of modern trains as a key factor hindering TRC’s ability to provide competitive and reliable services.
“The shortfall will likely affect TRC’s revenue projections and its broader aim of reducing congestion in Dar es Salaam,” Mr Kichere noted.
The 2019/20–2023/24 strategic plan had projected an increase in annual passenger numbers from 4.2 million in 2018/19 to nearly 10.7 million by the end of the period, with services focused on the Pugu and Ubungo routes.
TRC said it is working to procure four new trains to improve service quality and meet growing demand.
The CAG has recommended that TRC fast-track the acquisition of new rolling stock or refurbish existing trains to improve performance and achieve its urban transport objectives.
