- Passengers narrate charming experience
- Historic Dar-Dom electric train fully booked
DODOMA: IT arrived in Dodoma from Dar es Salaam fully packed, and the one that left the capital to the commercial city was fully booked, signalling the high demand for the long-awaited Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) electric train services plying between the two cities.
SGR electric train services between the two cities began yesterday ahead of official launch by President Samia Suluhu Hassan next Thursday.
Apart from, luxury, comfort and adventure, the fact that the inaugural journey stretching 451.9 kilometres lasted for just three hours and 25 minutes compared to almost ninehour journey by bus, covering the same distance, this must be a crowd puller.
No wonder, the Tanzania Railway Authority (TRC) management had to spill off customers who desperately sought tickets for the journey.
TRC Director General, Masanja Kadogosa, said they have enough reasons to increase the frequency of routes.
“We will certainly be making four trips daily, two from each destination… the number might increase depending on the market needs and demands,” he said, shortly after the train arrived at the Dodoma Station with 1,000 people disembarking from 14-passenger wagons.
The electric train left the Tanzanite Station in Dar es Salaam at round 6.00 am and the engine driver applied brakes at the Dodoma Station at 10.10 am, with some minutes wasted at Morogoro Station shunting.
“We had to spend three and half hours from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, unfortunately we had to wait for almost 30-minutes at Morogoro Station for shunting,” Mr Kadogosa said, promising that such logistical areas will be improved as the days go by.
“We are running the SGR services commercially, at the same time, offering the best to our passengers and meeting the needs as we have learned from services, we provide from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro,” he affirmed.
He said with the business trend, the Dar es Salaam to Morogoro started with two routes from either side but due to demand, they have increased the number of frequencies especially during the weekend.
“Trend shows that Friday to Sunday are peak days, where we are forced to increase the number of trips while Tuesday to Thursday the number of passengers slightly drops,” he said, insisting that electric train is more reliable.
Indeed, the new SGR electric train services to and from Dodoma, mark a transformative moment for Tanzania’s transportation sector. In comparison, the wagons capacity of carrying 1,000 passengers represents at least 50 passenger-bus with the capacity of carrying 50 people each.
Passengers aboard the train, expressed their delight of the comfortable journey, saying it will transform business and propel the economy of the individuals and the country in general.
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Pastor Christina Muhila of the Anglican Church in Chanika expressed her joy shortly after disembarking from the electric train.
“This is my first time travelling by train, and to be specific, by electric train …it is a nice experience,” she said.
Others, including Zakaria Nundi and Rose Mchau, expressed their happiness for being part of this historic moment, noting that the government has delivered on its promises.
“We are happy that we had a smooth and safe journey as well as being part of the maiden pre-start of the trip from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.
They commended President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for her strong leadership and vision in successfully completing the construction of infrastructure and other items needed for the SGR electric train.
A cross section of Dodoma residents, who were interviewed, expressed high hopes with the introduction of the electric train services, saying it will open new economic opportunities.
“Certainly, businesses will be booming and the number of deals will increase due to opportunities availed with the infrastructure,” said Mr Brighton Massawe, a tricycle (Bajaj) owner.
He said he is ready to take full advantage of the services to reap the benefits of the train services.
A food vendor, Selima Milton, said with the first day experience, the influx of people including workers, business operators and passengers made her close the kitchen early, which is a clear sign that she has to improve the restaurant environment and widen the variety of food options to meet the customers’ needs.
“I have seen the economic opportunities available at the SGR Dodoma Station, I will improve my business as the customers are readily available, it has a blessing that is worth tapped,” said Ms Milton.
Electronic money transfer operator and bank agent, Mr Faraja Koyo said he will be working to increase his business capital as the passengers can book and purchase tickets through electronic payment systems.
“I ran out of float today; it has been a good business lesson which is an opportunity to fully exploit for increased capital and tap the market” he said.
