Rail transport services resume at Tanga Port after 20 years

TANGA: RAIL transport services at Tanga Port officially resumed this week after a 20- year hiatus, a development expected to significantly boost the port’s capacity to handle cargo to and from western Tanzania and landlocked neighbours including Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The revival of the service was launched on Tuesday by the new Tanga Port Manager, Mr Salehe Mbega and the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) Regional Manager, Mr Lawrence Semanini, during a brief ceremony held at the port.

The move marks a major milestone in the implementation of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive to reconnect Tanga Port with Tanzania’s central and western regions and the Great Lakes corridor, thereby strengthening its role as a key logistics hub.

Mr Mbega said the rehabilitation of the railway infrastructure has expanded the port’s capacity to handle more cargo efficiently, adding that rail transport provides a cheaper and safer option for bulk cargo movement.

“Work has already started with steel coil cargo destined for Burundi being transported through the rehabilitated rail connection,” he said, urging customers to take advantage of the renewed service for greater efficiency and reduced costs.

On his part, Mr Semanini commended the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) for reviving rail operations at Tanga Port, noting that early results show strong interest from transporters.

He said the renewed rail link will enhance integration between the port and TRC’s central line network, further facilitating the movement of goods to the Great Lakes Region and beyond.

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“Already, 1,500 tonnes of cargo mainly destined for the lake region has been loaded onto trains. The prospects look good as more customers show interest in using rail services,” Semanini said.

He disclosed that the rehabilitation project cost over 1bn/- and that TRC is in talks with more than six potential clients, including one planning to transport 12,000 tonnes of sunflower through the railway.

“We are confident that more than 30,000 tonnes of cargo can be transported annually through the line,” he added.

The rehabilitation and revitalisation of the 3.9-kilometers port link and rail terminal began early this year, marking a significant step in the government’s broader strategy to modernise transport infrastructure and strengthen intermodal connections.

Completion of the project is expected to enhance cargo transportation efficiency, reduce logistics costs and improve connectivity between Tanga and other regions within the national railway network.

Beyond this specific project, the government has ambitious plans to revamp the entire railway system. Major rehabilitation of the Ruvu Junction–Tanga (188 km) and Mruazi–Arusha (381 km) lines is also in progress.

In April 2023, TRC signed contracts worth 132.54 million US dollars with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the rehabilitation of 533 kilometers of track.

The upgrade involves replacing light rails with stronger ones, increasing bridge capacity from 13 to 18.5 tonnes per axle, and installing 80-pound-per-yard (40 kg/m) heavy rails.

Once completed, train speeds will rise from 20 km/h to 75 km/h, improving both freight and passenger services.

The government has also finalised designs for a 1,028-kilometers Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line from Tanga to Musoma, which will link the port to key mining areas including Engaruka (Magadi Mines), Mijingu Phosphate and Dutwa Nickel, passing through Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Manyara, Mkalama (Singida), Meatu and Bunda.

The revival of Tanga’s rail operations, combined with ongoing modernisation efforts, positions the port as a critical gateway for regional trade and industrial growth.