The new railway terminal in Dar es Salaam, shaped and colored like the country’s rare gemstone, tanzanite, symbolizes Tanzania’s ambitious transport goals. The glass panels reflect the prismatic bluish-purple gem, shining in the sunlight. The electric trains, a first for the region, transport passengers from the commercial hub to the capital, Dodoma, in under four hours – half the time it takes by road.
This marks the beginning of a strategic project – the construction of a 2,560km Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connecting key cities and neighboring countries like Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Dar es Salaam to Dodoma leg, spanning 460km, has been operational since August, with President Samia Suluhu describing it as a pathway to the country’s future.
The station in Dodoma, resembling the city’s rocky hills, blends natural heritage with modernity. The efficient transport link between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma is crucial, as most commercial activities continue in Dar es Salaam. The electric train offers a smooth and convenient journey, a significant improvement from the older, slower trains.
Passengers enjoy clean, comfortable seats with foldable tray tables inside the train carriage. Gloria Sebastian, a resident of Dar es Salaam, praises the convenience of the train during her trip to Dodoma. The demand for the service has been high, with plans to add more journeys as passenger numbers increase.
Advance planning is necessary due to high demand, with economy class tickets costing 40,000 Tanzanian shillings and business class tickets priced at 70,000 shillings. Security checks are mandatory, with luggage scanning and sometimes frisking before boarding. Passengers experience a calm and orderly boarding process, with the train departing on time.
The journey offers panoramic views of the countryside, with tunnels causing slight discomfort to some passengers. The excitement of first-time travelers is evident, with many praising the convenience and cleanliness of the new train. Despite initial challenges, the project has reached a successful milestone, providing passengers with a zen-like travel experience on the SGR. However, it faced lengthy delays that the railway company attributes to Covid, construction costs, and labor issues.
There have also been questions about its significant cost, estimated at $10bn (£8bn) upon completion.
Turkish firm Yapi Merkezi is the main contractor for the first four sections of the route, including the Dar es Salaam to Dodoma segment, while Chinese firms are constructing the other two.
The station in the capital, Dodoma, reflects the rocky outcrops commonly found in the city [Basillioh Rukanga / BBC]
Funding has been provided by the Tanzanian government and various lenders, including Denmark and Sweden, the Chinese Exim bank, and the African Development Bank.
However, Mr Masanja believes it is too early to be concerned about profitability, as this will only be achievable once the entire network is finished. He mentions that the service is generating enough passenger income to cover operation costs, and that the company plans to introduce freight trains from January.
Currently, he says, “its social contribution is much more beneficial”.
The service has experienced occasional disruptions due to power failures, but Mr Masanja states that they are constructing a dedicated power transmission line to connect to the country’s extensive power generation capacity in order to eliminate the risk of unstable power.
By using electricity, operational costs have been reduced to approximately one-third of what would have been spent on diesel, which is what neighboring Kenya uses to power its own SGR line, according to him.
“We are the most cost-effective in the region, and in Africa, in terms of expenses,” he mentions.
Not everyone is completely satisfied, however.
Adam Ally Mwanshinga, chairman of the Dodoma Bus Terminal Agents’ Union, points out that his members have experienced a significant decline in business due to the railway.
While traveling by bus is cheaper, the convenience of the train has proven more appealing to many.
“Business has decreased and life has become challenging,” Mr Mwanshinga explains.
“The buses are not filling up and the numerous businesses here that used to benefit from the influx of people are now struggling,” he adds.
Nevertheless, he appears to have accepted the situation, acknowledging that the SGR development “has been beneficial for the majority of the people”.
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[Getty Images/BBC]
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