SGR container freight services launched

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has launched container transport services on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), a milestone expected to decongest the port and shorten inland transit times.

The heavy-haul service was inaugurated on Wednesday as a 50-wagon freight train, carrying 100 containers, departed from Pugu in Dar es Salaam destined for Dodoma. This launch marks a strategic shift toward accelerating cargo distribution across the central corridor.

Speaking at the launch, TRC’s Acting Director of Transport Services, Focus Sahani, said the introduction of containerised cargo marks a new phase in the corporation’s commercial expansion following the successful rollout of passenger services and bulk cargo transportation for commodities like rice and cement.

“Today we have expanded our business scope by introducing container cargo services. Our first container train to Ihumwa has officially commenced operations, and we have secured a strong commitment from our first client,” he said.

The first shipment was provided by GSM, signalling private sector uptake of the service. TRC said loading operations are currently taking place at Pugu, while infrastructure upgrades are underway at Malindi Yard near Gerezani area in Dar es Salaam to strengthen container handling capacity.

The corporation is also implementing a strategy to shift cargo clearance inland through Inland Container Depots in Morogoro and Ihumwa, a move expected to reduce congestion at Dar es Salaam Port and cut turnaround times.

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“The Morogoro ICD, located 193 kilometres from Dar es Salaam, is positioned to serve traders transporting goods to Mbeya and Iringa, while cargo destined for Dodoma will be cleared at Ihumwa, which has sufficient space and handling infrastructure,” he said.

According to him, by diverting container clearance away from the port and onto rail, TRC is positioning the SGR as a costeffective and efficient alternative to long-haul trucking between Dar es Salaam and central Tanzania.

The launch marks the first deployment of container carrier wagons since TRC began SGR freight operations on June 27, 2025.

In December 2024, TRC received 264 SGR freight wagons, including 200 container carrier wagons and 64 for loose cargo, providing significant capacity for scaling up rail-based freight services along the central corridor.

With containerised rail services now operational, TRC is seeking to capture a larger share of domestic cargo traffic, reduce road congestion, and strengthen the efficiency of Tanzania’s logistics chain.