Article courtesy of constructionreviewonline.com
The Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is a railway system, under construction, linking the country to the neighboring countries of Rwanda and Uganda, and through these two, to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The new US $14.2bn Tanzania SGR, is intended to replace the old, inefficient metre-gauge railway system and reduce road congestion. It is also expected to decrease freight costs by 40%. Each freight train is expected to transport up to 10,000 tonnes, equivalent to 500 lorry-loads.
The project is being implemented in 5 phases: 300km Phase 1 (Dar es Salaam–Morogoro) Section, 426km Phase 2 (Morogoro–Makutopora) Section, 435km Phase 3 (Makutopora–Isaka) Section; 220km Phase 4 (Isaka–Mwanza) Section, and 371km Phase 5 (Isaka–Rusumo)
Also Read: Standard Gauge Railway (SGR Kenya) project timeline and all you need to know
Timeline
2017
The 300km Phase 1 (Dar es Salaam–Morogoro) Section was contracted to a 50/50 consortium of Yapi Merkezi of Turkey and Mota-Engil of Portugal. Construction began in April.
2018
In September, the government of Tanzania secured a US$1.46bn soft loan from Standard Chartered Bank, for the funding of Phase 2 (Morogoro–Makutopora) Section. This section was also contracted to the Yapi Merkezi and Mota-Engil consortium. The 426km line stretches from Morogoro through Dodoma to Makutopora in Singida. The stations after Morogoro will be Mkata, Kilosa, Kidete, Gulwe, Igunda, Dodoma, Bahi and Makutopora.
2019
In February, 42% of this section was reported as complete. In May, it was announced that the section was 60% complete and that the first passenger trains are expected to start service in December.
2020
By June 2020 the work was 82% complete. This section will have six stations: Dar es Salaam, Pugu, Soga, Ruvu, Ngerengere and Morogoro.