Tanzania SGR freight service starts after successful trials

TRC’s head of information and communication, Mr Fredy Mwanjala, said the launch follows the strong performance of the passenger segment, which has transported more than 2.5 million travellers since June 2024.

“Initially, one cargo train will operate daily, departing Pugu Station in Dar es Salaam at 4:00 a.m., halting in Morogoro at 6:00 a.m. to allow a passenger train to pass, and arriving at Ihumwa Station in Dodoma at approximately 2:05 p.m.,” the TRC statement read.

Mr Mwanjala noted that plans are underway to scale up freight operations in response to market demand, including increasing the frequency of trains and the capacity of wagons.

“TRC is encouraging businesses, institutions, and transport stakeholders to take advantage of this modern, secure and reliable freight service,” he said.

The launch of SGR cargo services marks a significant milestone for Tanzania’s logistics sector, promising enhanced trade efficiency along the central corridor. The high-speed freight service follows regulatory approval by the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra), which conducted comprehensive inspections during the trial phase.

In March, TRC revealed it was finalising coordination efforts with other government bodies to facilitate the cargo service rollout. “We are refining certain procedures with the Tanzania Revenue Authority and Tanzania Ports Authority. This is a crosscutting issue that cannot be handled unilaterally,” said then-director general Mr Masanja Kadogosa during a briefing on TRC’s achievements under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration.

The SGR project, one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings, is being implemented in phases, covering 2,561 kilometres from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza and Kigoma. It will also establish key international connections to Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which rely on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean port for regional trade.

The Dar es Salaam–Dodoma section has already been completed, with passenger services operating since mid-2024.

In December 2024, Tanzania received 264 freight wagons as part of a larger order of 1,430 units from China’s CRRC. The consignment included 200 container wagons and 64 for loose cargo. According to TRC, all wagons passed Latra’s inspection, meeting international design speeds of 120 km/h and clearing tests for braking and curve handling systems.

Mr Kadogosa noted that the wagons, each capable of carrying up to 120 tonnes, conform to international standards and offer a substantial improvement over the 40-tonne capacity of the old railway. He also highlighted the SGR’s axle load capacity of 35 tonnes, which enables more efficient cargo movement and shorter transit times.

Crucially, Mr Kadogosa announced that TRC had not requested operational subsidies since the launch of SGR services. “We recently agreed with our board that government-funded salaries will end in the 2025/26 fiscal year. This marks a major shift for the sector, which has long depended on government support,” he said.

Looking ahead, TRC plans to extend SGR freight services to Mwanza by 2027, further integrating trade routes with Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan. The Kigoma extension is slated for completion by 2028.

Mr Kadogosa also revealed that planning is underway for a southern SGR line, to be developed through private sector investment. He noted that the new route will stimulate port operations and cargo traffic from mineral-rich areas such as Mchuchuma and Liganga.

“Unlike the central railway, this southern line will catalyse port activity and significantly increase cargo volumes,” he said.

According to TRC, the total value of signed SGR construction contracts currently stands at Sh29.58 trillion.