What is the difference as new train starts SGR routes

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) is rolling out a new passenger train starting Friday November 1, 2024, on the standard gauge railway (SGR) which has overwhelmingly attracted travelers.

The passengers should expect more comfort and speed in the maiden Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) train, compared to the conventional one, according to the authorities.

The state-run corporation’s SGR procurement manager, Mr Kelvin Kimario, said this week that the EMU, based on the buyer’s configuration, can have four, six, eight or 10 connected carriages, which cannot be separated.

“The train has connected cars that cannot be separated. They are fixed together. During maintenance in the workshop, we can separate them but in normal operations, they cannot be detached. This contributes to the comfort level because the lack of separation reduces noise from vibrations compared to an ordinary train, which can be noisy due to joints and connections,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the train is specifically designed for high-speed travel, featuring a slightly aerodynamic shape to cut through waves and reduce air resistance, enabling it to run without requiring much power.

He noted that the EMU does not have a head like the ordinary ones; instead, the eight cars, some have motors to drive the train and are powered by electricity. In contrast, ordinary trains have a front unit that takes power from above and distributes it to the cars.

“The new EMU is efficient, noise-free, comfortable, and capable of speeding up to 160 km/h,” he said.

Following the entrance of the new train, Tanzania has currently six EMUs with three undergoing clearance at the port, and two scheduled to begin service on November 1, while one is still in testing.

TRC expects a total of eight EMUs soon, with an additional two planned to bring the number to 10 in the future.

Cargo wagons in sight

TRC director of public operations, Mr Focus Sahani, told a local radio this week that the shift is marking a new chapter.

He said TRC is expecting to receive the first batch of 250 cargo wagons in December this year, with plans for a total of 1,439 wagons to support the route from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.

Operations on the SGR line began on June 14 between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro, and expanded to Dodoma on July 25.

He said that currently, three EMUs are available, with two having completed testing and scheduled to start operations on November 1.

Mr Sahani said that the cargo wagons totalling 1,430, are dedicated to cargo services between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma.

He added that a transshipment point has been established to reduce cargo transportation time.

The SGR railway construction is ongoing, with more phases under construction from Tabora to Kigoma and aiming to connect from Uvinza to Kigali, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.