Inside Tanzania's First Electric SGR Train as It Makes Maiden Trip With Passengers

 

The new electric Tanzanian railway

On Friday, June 14, Tanzania's first electric Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train made its maiden trip from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro. Passengers board Tanzania's first electric train. Photo: Hua Hongli. Source: Twitter The train took 90 minutes to reach Morogoro, a distance of 300 kilometres.  According to The Citizen, ordinary tickets from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro cost TSh 13,000 (KSh 640) for adults and TSh 6,500 (KSh 320) for children aged four to 12. How much did Tanzania's SGR trains cost? In January, Tanzania procured three electric locomotives and 27 passenger carriages for its Standard Gauge Railway. This acquisition was part of Tanzania Railways Corporation's broader strategy to enhance and modernise rail transport within the country. Tanzania finalised a substantial $2.2 billion (KSh 284.2 billion) deal with China in December 2022 to establish a comprehensive SGR network spanning 2,561 kilometres. It features wider and firmer tracks that support heavier loads and higher speed, compared to the older Meter Gauge Railway (MGR). The East African country's recently acquired electric engines boast an impressive top speed of 160 km/h. In contrast, despite being more expensive, Kenya's diesel-powered locomotives have a maximum speed of only 120 km/h, highlighting a notable disparity in speed and cost efficiency. Which other African countries have the fastest trains? African governments are replacing diesel-powered train locomotives with electric ones in the race for faster trains. Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa are some African countries with the fastest trains. Nigeria has two high-speed trains with up to 330km/h speeds. What's the speed of Kenya's Madaraka Express? Madaraka Express operates from Nairobi to Mombasa at a top speed of 120km/hr. It has two classes: First class and economy class. First-class ticket costs increased by KSh 1,500 from KSh 3,000 to KSh 4,500, while normal ticket costs rose from KSh 1,000 to KSh 1,500. According to The East African, The Exim Bank of China provided the majority of the $3.2 billion (KSh 413.4 billion) in funding for the SGR project. 

by  Japhet Ruto