TRC to expand SGR passenger trips
MOROGORO: TANZANIA Railways Corporation (TRC) is set to increase electrified Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passenger services next month, in efforts to improve transport connectivity between Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Dodoma.
The move is expected to provide passengers with more travel options. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports and Chief Government Spokesperson, Mr Gerson Msigwa, said TRC will introduce more train trips starting September 1 to ease travel among major towns served by the SGR.
Speaking to journalists in Morogoro, yesterday Mr Msigwa said the decision was informed by growing demand for rail transport and the strategic role of Morogoro as a key link in the network.
“TRC will increase train services from September 1 to enable passengers in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Dodoma to travel more conveniently,” he said.
The electrified SGR service has significantly improved passenger and freight transportation. Mr Msigwa said the SGR has transported more than seven million passengers since the launch of passenger services in July 2024.
He said the railway has now started cargo transportation, with facilities established at various SGR stations to handle goods.
The facilities will enable traders to transport cargo from the Dar es Salaam Port to Morogoro, Dodoma and other destinations.
Mr Msigwa said the government has also established a link between the port and the SGR to allow direct transfer of cargo from ships to trains for inland transportation.
He said the system will give traders flexibility to receive cargo at designated stations and continue with distribution to final destinations.
“Traders can unload their cargo at these centres and proceed to their destinations,” he said.
Mr Msigwa said the expansion of cargo services will strengthen the link between the port and inland economic centres, while improving efficiency in transportation of goods.
He noted that more than 30tri/- has been invested in construction of the SGR, describing it as a key strategic infrastructure project.
The railway complements improvements at the Dar es Salaam Port, which recently handled a record 138,000 containers in a month, compared to between 50,000 and 60,000 containers in 2021.
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Mr Msigwa said the government is implementing Dira 2050 (National Development Vision 2050) and the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan to ensure economic growth translates into improved living standards.
He said construction of additional SGR sections is ongoing to extend the network to Mwanza and Kigoma.
The Dar es SalaamMwanza corridor includes the Makutupora-Tabora, Tabora-Isaka and IsakaMwanza sections, while the second phase covers Tabora-Kigoma and the Uvinza-Musongati link to Burundi.
TRC expects services on the Dar es SalaamMwanza route to start in 2027, while Tabora-Kigoma operations are projected for 2028, subject to completion and testing.
