Tanzania has today afternoon launched its 2nd trip trial of its electric standard gauge railway (SGR) train from the port city of Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.
The first SGR trial trip was from Dar es salaam to Morogoro in February this year.
The country’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa launched the trip trial, as the train carried 104 leaders to Dodoma, inclusive of religious leaders, retired political leaders and some diplomats.
“This is the first time we do a trip from Dar es salaam to Dodoma, and we expect that substantively, trips for ordinary passengers from Dar es salaam to Dodma will start in July this year.”said the country’s deputy minister for transport David Kihenzile.
The Director General for Tanzania Railway Corporation Masanja Kadogosa said the entire project would cost $10.016 billion which is equivalent to 23.33 trillion Tanzania shillings on 1,596km.
“Out of those, some 1,219km are on the main line while 377km is for crossing lines.”
The contruction has 5 phases of: ni za njia za kupishana,” alisema. (Dar-Moro) which is 98.93 percent complete, second one being Morogoro – Dodoma ( 96.61%), third is Makutupora of Singida to Tabora ( 24.2%) and fourth is from Tabora to Isaka ( 6% done) and fifth is from Isaka – Mwanza ( 56%).
One of the passengers on this trip told ‘Media Pad Africa’ that the trip to Dodoma took them only 4 hours, down from the usual 7 to 8 hours by bus.