Tanzania set to launch SGR services

Dar es Salaam. Standard gauge railway (SGR) services between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro will officially start tomorrow, Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) announced yesterday.

The milestone will mark significant advancement in Tanzania’s transport infrastructure, promising enhanced connectivity and efficiency and stimulating economic growth, according to TRC director general Masanja Kadogosa.

 He made the remarks during the launch of an awareness campaign with the motto  “Twende Tukapande Treni Yetu, Tuitunze, Tuithamini” (let’s go board our train, take care of it, value it).

“We have launched the campaign to encourage more people to travel by SGR so that  by the time services commence between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, more people will be aware,” Mr Kadogosa said.

Trains are expected to start plying the Dar es Salaam-Dodoma route on July 25, in line with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s aspirations.

“TRC has started off with the Dar es Salaam-Morogoro route as the preliminary stage. This will also  enable us to work on challenges that will observed during the first phase of operations,” Mr Kadogosa said.

Fares for the express service are Sh70,000, Sh100,000 and Sh120,000 for economy, business and royal classes, respectively.

“Depending on demand, TRC is scheduled to start with two trains from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma and vice-versa on a daily basis. Security on the SGR is a top priority. Locomotives are equipped with CCTV cameras and passengers will be monitored while on board and when alighting. Patrols will also be conducted along the route around the clock to prevent vandalism and sabotage,” Mr Kadogosa said.

TRC head of communications Jamila Mbarouk told The Citizen that services between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro will start with fares that were announced  earlier in the week by the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra).

Tickets between the two destinations will cost Sh6,500 and Sh13,000 for children and adults, respectively.

Fares for children and adults travelling between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma have been set at Sh15,500 and Sh31,000, respectively.

TRC commercial officer Lilian Mselle said travellers will  buy tickets through the  government’s Electronic Payment Gateway, Visa and Master cards and mobile networks.

“This is a deliberate move to  discourage cash transactions and promote online payments. Food will be sold at stations at affordable prices. As such, travellers will not be allowed to carry food onto trains,” she said.

However, breastfeeding mothers will be allowed to board with food for their children aged between six months to one year.

Ms Mselle said those travelling in business and royal classes will be allowed to carry with them 20 kilogrammes and 30 kilogrammes of luggage, respectively, free of charge.

Tanzania Commercial Bank (TCB) is among business entities that have entered into partnership with TRC in offering SGR services.

“We have partnered with TRC in the area of fare collection. We are optimistic that more people will view the SGR as an investment opportunity,” TCB chief executive  Adam Miyaho said.

An official with SGR contractor Yapi Merkezi, Mr Mehmet Firat, said they are thrilled to have an opportunity to witness the commencement of services after several years of construction work.

“We have completed the construction of the Dar es Salaam-Morogoro section of the SGR and everything has been finalised. We hope it will help to boost Tanzania’s economy,” he said.

Mr Firat added that the SRG in Tanzania is easily the best in east and central Africa.