The railway system in Tanzania has a total track length of 3,676 km with two separate networks. One is run by Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which maintains and operates a 1,067 mm gauge of 975 km network in the southern part of the country, more precisely the line from Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) operates over 2,706 km of tracks (1,000 mm gauge) in the Central and Northern parts of Tanzania, including Tanzania’s railway links to Kenya and Uganda. TRL is fully owned by the government.
Railways in Tanzania were first built in 1893, when the first rail track was laid at the port of Tanga. Then, construction of railway lines continued to other places in the country. The railway services were operated by Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC), established in 1977 after the collapse of the former East African Community. In 2007, TRC was renamed to be TRL. For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.
Travel Time Matrix for Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL)
Travel Time from Dodoma to Major Towns (in hours) |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dodoma |
Dar es Salaam |
Morogoro |
Tabora |
Kigoma |
Mwanza |
Tanga |
Dodoma |
|
11 |
8 |
12 |
25 |
23 |
22 |
Dar es Salaam |
11 |
|
5 |
21 |
41 |
38 |
15 |
Morogoro |
8 |
8 |
|
20 |
33 |
31 |
15 |
Tabora |
13 |
29 |
21 |
|
13 |
11 |
36 |
Kigoma |
25 |
41 |
33 |
12 |
|
24 |
48 |
Mwanza |
23 |
39 |
31 |
11 |
24 |
|
46 |
Tanga |
23 |
15 |
15 |
35 |
48 |
46 |
|
Railway Companies and Consortia
TRL network is managed by Reli Assets Holding Company Limited (RAHCO). RAHCO was established under the Railway Act No. 4 of 2002 and became operational in September 2007 principally as Landlord of railways infrastructure on behalf of the Government.
TAZARA is a bi-national railway, linking the Southern Africa Regional transport network to Eastern Africa's seaport of Dar es Salaam, offering both freight and passengers transportation services between and within Tanzania and Zambia. The construction of TAZARA railway network was completed in 1975 and started commercial operations in 1976.
Tanzania Railway improvements (Standard Gauge )
The Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway 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 Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), is intended to replace the old, inefficient metre-gauge railway system.
In February 2017, construction companies Yapı Merkezi and Mota-Engil were jointly awarded a contract to build 207 kilometres (129 mi) of track between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro, and a 400-kilometre (250 mi) line connecting Isaka with Burundi and Rwanda Construction of the Dar es Salaam–Morogoro line began in April, with service began in 2019. The new line is designed to allow passenger services to travel at up to 160 km/h (100 mph) and freight services at up to 120 km/h (75 mph). Tanzania plans to extend the line to Dodoma, and later to Kigoma and Mwanza, contingent on obtaining financing. The railway system would consist of several major sections and phases.
For more information on railway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.9 Railway Companies Contact List.
Capacity Table
Rail Operator Capacity |
||
---|---|---|
TAZARA |
TRL |
|
Lines Operates On |
One line |
One line |
Max Train Length and / or Pulling Capacity |
310-330 m 23-25 wagons (1600MT) |
273 m-409 m Pulling (750-1200MT) |
Locomotives |
Diesel Electric |
Diesel Electric |
Covered Freight Wagons Size (m) old=11.9; New=15.946 |
Old=231@30MT New=93@50MT |
47.5-56.8MT |
Flatbed Freight Wagons Size (m) 13.9 |
62@50MT |
40.6-72.7MT |
High-sided Freight Wagons Size (m) 13.9 |
332@50MT |
49.1-74.94MT |
Drop-side Freight Wagons Size (m) old=13.9; new=13.0 Others Brake vans: 8.8m Fuel tanks: 11.9m Fuel tanks JTW:14m |
Old=499@50MT New=277@50MT 38@18MT 99@50MT 19@50MT |
NIL Tanker=40230-63210 liters |
Key Route Information for TAZARA
Standard Route Information |
|
---|---|
Dar es Salaam – To Tunduma |
|
Track Gauge |
1067mm |
Ruling Gradient |
20% |
Total Track Distance |
Single-1860km |
Type of Rail |
|
Type of Sleeper and Fastenings |
Wooden and concrete sleepers |
Total Track Travel Time |
Designed 80km/hr |
Maintenance |
Good |
Companies / Consortiums Operating on Line |
TAZARA |
Traffic Frequency |
Daily |
Security |
Good |
Main Stations |
Kurasini, Mlimba, Mbeya, New Kapiri Mposhi |
Key Stations for TAZARA
Key Station Information |
|||
---|---|---|---|
DSM |
MBY |
Tunduma |
|
Location |
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
Mbeya, Tanzania |
Songwe, Tanzania |
Contact Information |
|||
Connections with Other Transport Means |
Road and Waterways |
Road |
Road |
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
- |
- |
- |
Handling Equipment |
Movable cranes |
||
Handling Capacity |
MT / Hour |
MT / Hour |
MT / Hour |
Other Comments |
Key Route Information for TRL
Standard Route Information |
||
---|---|---|
Dar es Salaam – To Kigoma |
Tabora - To Mwanza |
|
Track Gauge |
1 m |
1 m |
Ruling Gradient |
1.5 to 3.5% |
1.5 to 3.5% |
Total Track Distance |
1254km |
379km |
Type of Rail |
Welded (56-80 pound) |
Welded (56 – 60) |
Type of Sleeper and Fastenings |
Wooden and concrete sleepers |
|
Total Track Travel Time |
41hours |
11hour |
Maintenance |
Marginal |
Good |
Companies / Consortiums Operating on Line |
- |
- |
Traffic Frequency |
Weekly |
Monthly |
Security |
Good |
Good |
Main Stations |
DSM & KGM stations |
Mwz |
Key Stations for TRL
Key Station Information |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Malind |
Ilala |
Kigoma |
Isaka |
|
Location |
Dar es Salaam |
Dar es Salaam |
Kigoma |
Isaka |
Contact Information |
+255 715 286 873 |
+255 784 365 009 |
+255 717 434 117 |
+255 685 937 111 |
Connections with Other Transport Means |
Waterways |
Road |
Waterways |
Road |
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
20713.9m3 |
1136.52m3 |
|
|
Handling Equipment |
|
|||
Handling Capacity |
MT / Hour |
MT / Hour |
MT / Hour |
|
Other Comments |
|