•  TRC to begin freight operations on Dar es-Salaam–Morogoro SGR line in July

• Rail service aims to ease road traffic and improve regional logistics

• Tanzania positions itself as a key East African transport hub

The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) will begin freight services on its standard gauge railway (SGR) network in July, marking a step toward integrated national and regional transport systems.

The 300-kilometer Dar es-Salaam–Morogoro section, launched in June 2024, has so far been used for passenger travel, reducing journey times from five to about two hours. The addition of freight services aligns with efforts to relieve pressure on roads and establish rail as a central mode for goods transport in East Africa.

Technical trials were conducted with new rail cars delivered by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC). In March, TRC tested 264 rail cars, 200 for containerized cargo and 64 for bulk freight, out of a total order of 1,430 units. The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) has certified the rail infrastructure and equipment for commercial freight operations.

The SGR expansion supports Tanzania’s broader goal of becoming a regional logistics hub. The modernized rail network is expected to handle cargo to and from the port of Dar es-Salaam for landlocked neighbors including Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Malawi.