In early June 2024, a long-awaited event took place in Tanzania: passenger services commenced on an electrified single-track line between the capital, Dar es Salaam, and Morogoro, a city located in the country’s center, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
This route, spanning less than 200 kilometers, marks the first phase of Tanzania’s ambitious railway infrastructure development project aimed at improving transport accessibility and reducing travel time between key points in the country.
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The inaugural commercial journey took place on June 14, 2024.
Built by a joint venture between the Turkish company Yapı Merkezi and Portuguese Mota-Engil, the electric train successfully transported around 1400 passengers from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro in just two hours.
This represents a significant time reduction compared to traditional bus journeys, which take eight hours.
Plans for the coming months include extending the route to Tanzania’s capital, Dodoma, starting from July 25, 2024.
This extension will reduce travel time between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma to three hours, further enhancing convenience for passengers and boosting the regional economy.
Long-term plans involve constructing a mainline that will connect Dar es Salaam to the city of Mwanza on the southern shore of Lake Victoria.
This project promises to greatly improve transport accessibility not only within Tanzania but also to neighboring landlocked countries such as Rwanda and Burundi, which lack direct access to the ocean.
The railway line, electrified with 25 kV AC at 50 Hz, is designed to accommodate passenger trains traveling at speeds of up to 160 km/h and freight trains at speeds of up to 120 km/h.
This technical solution not only increases speed and transport efficiency but also reduces environmental impact.
According to a contract signed with South Korean company Hyundai Rotem, Tanzania has acquired modern electric locomotives and trains assembled locally in the city of Changwon.
The arrival of these trains in early 2024 marked a significant milestone in preparing for the opening of new routes and improving the quality of railway transportation.
The development of railway infrastructure in Tanzania is part of a strategy to modernize the country’s transportation system and stimulate economic growth.
It is expected that the new railway routes will not only simplify access to key regions but also serve as a powerful catalyst for tourism and trade development in the East African region.
Photo: TRC
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