Tanzania Railways Corporation

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Tanzania Railways Corporation
TRC Logo.png
Dar TRC Railway Station.JPG
Two diesel locomotives pull a passenger train into Dar es Salaam's main railway station.
Operation
National railway Tanzania
System length
Total2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi)
Track gauge
Main1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electrification
MainNone

The Tanzania Railways Corporation(TRC) is a state-owned enterprise that runs one of Tanzania's two main railway networks. the Headquarters are located in Mchafukoge, Ilala District, Dar es Salaam Region.

Contents

When the East African Railways and Harbours Corporation was dissolved in 1977 and its assets divided between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, TRC was formed to take over its operations in Tanzania. In 1997 the inland shipping division became a separate company.

MGR

In November 2021, TRC received the three modern locomotives (H10 series) worth Sh22 billion to strengthen their Metre-gauge railway (MGR) line, ordered from Malaysia. [1]

Rail network

TRC passenger train departing in Dodoma.

TRC's gauge is 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) and the length about 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi). Two east–west lines linking the coast and the hinterland were built under colonial rule as German East Africa: the Central Line runs from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, and the Tanga Line from Tanga to Arusha. A north-south connection, from Korogwe to Ruvu, links the two lines. The main line runs to Lake Victoria where a connection operates via Lake Victoria train ferries with the Uganda Railway and Kenya Railways. From the Tanga line a line to Kenya is disused.

Railways in Tanzania. Railways in Tanzania.svg
Railways in Tanzania.

There is a break-of-gauge at Dar es Salaam to the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) line to Zambia. A second link is at Kidatu, where the TAZARA line meets the Kidatu branch.

In 2024, Tanzania inaugurated a new railway terminal in Dar es Salaam as part of its ambitious Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project. The railway, powered by electricity, connects Dar es Salaam to Dodoma in under four hours. The 460km route is the first phase of a larger 2,560km railway designed to link Tanzania with neighboring countries such as Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. [2]

Former Marine Division

TRC inherited ferry and cargo ship services on Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa and some ships on Lake Victoria.

TRC introduced MV Bukoba on Lake Victoria in about 1979, [3] MV Mwongozo on Lake Tanganyika in 1982 [4] and passenger and cargo ship MV Serengeti on Lake Victoria in 1988. [5]

On 21 May 1996 Bukoba sank in 25 metres (14 fathoms) of water about 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Mwanza. [3] She had many more passengers aboard than she was certified to carry and at least 800 people were killed. [3] After the disaster criminal charges were brought against nine TRC officials including Bukoba's master and the manager of the Marine Division. [3]

In 1997 the Marine Division became a separate company, Marine Services Company Limited. [6]

Rail accidents

On 24 June 2002 the Igandu train disaster killed 281 people, the second highest number of deaths in a train disaster in Africa (the highest being the Awash rail disaster).

Privatisation, re-nationalization and recent plans

In 2007 RITES Ltd of India won a contract from the Parastatal Sector Reform Commission (PSRC) to operate passenger and freight trains on a concession basis for 25 years. [7] The concession agreement was signed on 3 September 2007, to begin on 1 October 2007. The railway will be run as Tanzania Railway Ltd, with the government owning a 49% stake. [8]

There were moves to abandon the contract "due in part, to the fact that the Indian investor failed to pay over USD 6 million in concession fees to the Tanzania government in 2008" but RITES officials countered noting that the contract "misled Rites officials by indicating that the Railway Assets Holding Company (Rahco) was in possession of 92 working locomotives when, in actuality, only 55 existed". [9] In 2010, the government terminated the contract and resumed control. [10]

In 2007 the Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Maua Abeid Daftari proposed conversion to standard gauge.[ citation needed ]

Sleepers

In 2008 tenders were sought for 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)-gauge steel sleepers convertible to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge [11] and for concrete sleeper plant for dual 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) and 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) gauges.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

Transport in Tanzania includes road, rail, air and maritime networks. The road network is 86,472 kilometres (53,731 mi) long, of which 12,786 kilometres (7,945 mi) is classified as trunk road and 21,105 kilometres (13,114 mi) as regional road. The rail network consists of 3,682 kilometres (2,288 mi) of track. Commuter rail service is in Dar es Salaam only. There are 28 airports, with Julius Nyerere International being the largest and the busiest. Ferries connect Mainland Tanzania with the islands of Zanzibar. Several other ferries are active on the countries' rivers and lakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Uganda</span>

Transport in Uganda refers to the transportation structure in Uganda. The country has an extensive network of paved and unpaved roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Victoria ferries</span> Ferry service carrying passengers throughout Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria ferries are motor ships for ferry services carrying freight and/or vehicles and/or passengers between Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya on Lake Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TAZARA Railway</span> Railway in Tanzania and Zambia

The Tazara Railway, also called the Uhuru Railway or the Tanzam Railway, is a railway in East Africa linking the port of Dar es Salaam in east Tanzania with the town of Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province. The single-track railway is 1,860 km (1,160 mi) long and is operated by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zambia Railways</span> National railway company of Zambia

Zambia Railways (ZR) is the national railway company of Zambia and one of the two major railway organisations in Zambia. The other system is the binational TAZARA Railway (TAZARA) that interconnects with the ZR at Kapiri Mposhi and provides a link to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape to Cairo Railway</span> Proposed but never completed railway connecting British colonies in eastern Africa

The Cape to Cairo Railway was an unfinished project to create a railway line crossing from southern to northern Africa. It would have been the largest, and most important, railway of the continent. It was planned as a link between Cape Town in South Africa and Port Said in Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Line (Tanzania)</span> Railway line in Tanzania

The Central Line, formerly known as the Tanganyika Railway is the most important railway line in Tanzania, apart from TAZARA. It runs west from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika via Dodoma. Extensions of the central route branch to the cities of Mwanza on Lake Victoria, Tanga, Singida and Mpanda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uganda Railways Corporation</span> State-owned railway company of Uganda

The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) is the parastatal railway of Uganda. It was formed after the breakup of the East African Railways Corporation (EARC) in 1977 when it took over the Ugandan part of the East African railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Tanzania</span>

Rail transport in Tanzania is conducted by two companies. It has historically used narrow gauge trackage, but planning and construction of new standard gauge lines is underway as of 2017.

Rail transport in Zambia is primarily provided by two systems:

Kidatu is a town in central Tanzania, located in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region. The local population is about 3,300. The primary economic activity is the large Illovo sugar cane plantation and factory which produces 130,000 tonnes of sugar per year.

The Usambara Railway was the first railway to be built in German East Africa and what is today Tanzania.

The Trans Africa Railway Corporation is a company that runs the break of gauge transshipment station at Kidatu, Tanzania.

There are several planned railway lines in Rwanda, including a line to Tanzania. Historical railways are limited to three industrial railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railway stations in Tanzania</span>

Railway stations in Tanzania include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanzania Ports Authority</span> Public corporation in Tanzania

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is a parastatal public corporation acting under the aegis of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, that has the responsibility "to manage and operate" the ocean ports and lake ports of the country of Tanzania. The Tanzania Ports Authority headquarters are located in Mchafukoge ward of Ilala District in Dar es Salaam Region. It is a member of the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East African Railway Master Plan</span> Proposal for updating railways serving east African countries

The East African Railway Master Plan is a proposal for rejuvenating the railways serving Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and building new railways to serve Rwanda and Burundi. The objective is to further the economic development of East Africa by increasing the efficiency and speed, and lowering the cost, of transporting cargo between major ports on the Indian Ocean coast and the interior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of rail transport in Tanzania</span>

Rail transport in Tanzania began in the late 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Services Company Limited</span>

Marine Services Company Limited (MSCL) is a Tanzanian company that operates ferries, cargo ships and tankers on three of the African Great Lakes, namely Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa. It provides services to neighbouring Burundi, DR Congo, Zambia and Malawi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dar es Salaam commuter rail</span> Public transit system in Tanzania

The Dar es Salaam commuter rail, informally known as Treni ya Mwakyembe, is an urban and suburban commuter rail network serving the Tanzanian commercial city of Dar es Salaam. It is one of the two initiatives taken by the government to ease travel within the congested city; the other being the Dar es Salaam bus rapid transit system. Services are provided by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC).

References

  1. "Malaysian firm to invest in locomotive assembly plant in Tanzania". The Citizen. 18 November 2021.
  2. "Tanzania railway: Dar es Salaam to Dodoma link is East Africa's first electric train". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Arai Shin-Ichi (30 May 1996). "Lake Victoria tragedy, Tanzania in May 21". Arai's Zanzibar, Tanzania Page. Arai Shin-Ichi. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  4. "MV. Mwongozo". Vessels. Marine Services Company Limited . Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  5. "MV. Serengeti". Vessels. Marine Services Company Limited . Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  6. "Home". Marine Services Company Limited. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  7. Rites Consortium to run railway in 2007
  8. "October start for Tanzania rail concession". Railway Gazette International . 12 September 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012.
  9. Tanzania Railways Ltd Recapitalization Archived 19 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine TanzaniaInvest, 17 August 2009
  10. "Railways liberate our geography, they cannot be driven by pedestrian thinkers". The East African . 22 March 2010.
  11. "SUPPLY OF STEEL RAILWAY SLEEPERS, SHOULDERS, AND PANDROL CLIPS (IFB 2/2008) - dgMarket". www.dgmarket.ro. Retrieved 4 September 2017.