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Boost for trade as Tanzania receives SGR electric trains from South Korea

Tanzania's Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains at the Dar es Salaam port. (X/TRC)

By Barack Oduor | 06 Apr 2024

Each train can carry up to 589 passengers, taking them along at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour.

Tanzania is set for a significant infrastructural boost after its first-ever electric trains arrived in the country.

The Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) announced the arrival of the Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains at the Dar es Salaam port, in a move that will boost its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project.

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The first set of trains that arrived at the port had five electric locomotives and three passenger cars, making passenger movement look comfortable during transportation.

These state-of-the-art EMUs, bought from Hyundai Rotem in South Korea, have impressive features specifically made for comfort and convenience.

Each train can carry up to 589 passengers, taking them along at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour.

The new units have taken into consideration passenger comfort with amenities such as Wi-Fi, special seats for passengers with special needs, air conditioning, and CCTV cameras to boost security during the journey.

In a statement, TRC said they expect to receive a total of 10 EMU sets. The remaining ones will now be arriving each month until October 2024.

Accompanying the fleet and already received at the port include 65 passenger cars and 9 electric locomotives, further bolstering their fleet.

The arrival of this rolling stock indicates a big milestone for the Tanzanian SGR project. The first phase Phase, which covers the route from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro (300km) is at 98 per cent, Morogoro to Makutupora at 96 per cent, Makutopora- Tabora at 13.98 per cent, and Tabora- Isaka at 5.44 per cent

While other sections are at various stages of development, with Mwanza to Isaka showing significant progress at 54.01 per cent completion, the entire project is expected to be finalized by 2025.

Divided into five phases, the SGR links the port of Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean to the port of Mwanza in northern Tanzania. Lots 3 and 4 of the SGR run from Makutopora to Tabora, and from Tabora to Isaka, respectively.

Forming part of the East African Railway Master Plan, the SGR is operated by the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC). The 1,800km railway line will link the country to neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda, and subsequently Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The new standard gauge network replaces the existing metre-gauge railway system and will accommodate passenger trains travelling at 160 kilometres per hour and cargo trains travelling at 120 kilometres per hour, using electricity to power its locomotives.