Tanzania accelerates its progress with the implementation of new electric railroads and an express service

Two new electric multiple-unit (EMU) trains from South Korea have arrived in Tanzania, marking a significant advancement in the country’s railway modernization.

The trains will be utilized on the new standard gauge railway route that connects the commercial center Dar es Salaam and the capital Dodoma. Each train will have eight carriages. The service is scheduled to commence on July 25.

Speedy service

On Friday, an express train will be introduced between Dar and Morogoro, reducing the travel time from four hours by bus to a mere one hour and forty minutes.

The express train will depart Dar at 6 a.m. and return at 7:10 p.m. The train will depart from Morogoro at 6:20 a.m. and return at 7:30 p.m.

The trains provide four daily SGR journeys along the route.

Trains departing from Dar es Salaam at 9:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m., as well as from Morogoro at the same times, will make stopovers along the route.

According to the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC), the number of trains will be increased in accordance with passenger traffic.

“To prevent congestion, passengers are encouraged to purchase tickets on the company’s website or at the windows within train stations at least two hours prior to the departure of the train,” stated TRC in a statement.

Speed of travel

Tanzania has acquired ten locomotives and carriages from the Hyundai Rotem Company in South Korea.

Each set consists of eight carriages, each with a locomotive at the front and rear. It is capable of transporting 589 passengers and can travel at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour.

The most recent two EMUs have been delivered to Tanzania, resulting in a total of three. The initial set was delivered in April of this year and has been employed for testing purposes.

“TRC has received a total of 65 passenger wagons, 17 electric locomotives, and three sets of EMU trains. The equipment for the SGR operations is currently being received in various phases,” TRC stated.

The provision of service will not commence until the newly arrived equipment has undergone additional testing to ensure its reliability.