TANZANIA Railways Corporation (TRC) has launched passenger operations on the 440km section of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Dar es Salaam to the capital Dodoma.
There a currently two train pairs a day between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma. An Express service leaves Dodoma at 05.30 to arrive in Dar es Salaam at 08.45. In the opposite direction, an Express service leaves Dar es Salaam at 06.00 to arrive in Dodoma at 09.25.
A conventional service leaves Dodoma at 17.30 and arrives in Dar es Salaam at 21.05. There is a departure from Dar es Salaam at 18.55 for arrival in Dodoma at 22.35.
TRC hopes to increase the service frequency as demand builds up, and some trains are already oversubscribed, according to TRC director general, Mr Masanja Kadogosa.
As well as cutting journey times by around 50% when compared with road coaches, passenger services on the electrified SGR are expected to cut CO2 emissions, while reducing air and noise pollution.
Hyundai Rotem is supplying 17 electric locomotives with a maximum speed of 160km/h to haul 89 coaches that are being delivered by Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology (SSRST) of Korea. The new passenger fleet features air-conditioning and onboard Wi-Fi, and offers seating in Royal, Business and Economy class.
Hyundai Rotem is also supplying 10 eight-car EMUs to TRC, each capable of carrying a total of 590 passengers at a speed of up to 160km/h.
“We have waited for this service for a long time but finally we are starting,” Kadogosa says.
“Both business and regular classes are full and, in fact, many people missed tickets.”
An in-depth feature on the SGR and other rail projects in Tanzania appeared in the June issue of IRJ.
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