2024-08-15 22:26:06
In Tanzania, a new electric railway now connects the economic capital, Dar es Salaam, to the administrative capital of Dodoma, in the center of the country. The program, in collaboration with Turkish and Chinese companies, is partially funded by the Development Bank. And Tanzania plans to draw a line to the Great Lakes countries.
Brand new and completely electric, the new SGR train (Standard gauge RailwayThe standard route train, Editor’s Note) departs from Dar es Salaam station, the economic capital of Tanzania. We first gave many thoughts that day. ” Before the train, I took the bus, it took three or four hours. But now it is very easy : we came, we sat, we rested and it was 1h30. »
Connecting Tanzania to Burundi and DRC by train
Running at 160 km/h compared to the average speed of 30 or 40 km/h for his grandfather, this train connects Dar es Salaam to Morogoro, further west. A few weeks ago, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the second phase of the country’s capital, Dodoma. The purpose according to him: to develop trade between Tanzania and neighboring countries. « Africa is not well connected by transport. This is why we have trouble trading with each other. This is what encouraged me to do everything so that Tanzania is connected by train to those Burundi and to those RDC. A great country which will be a great outlet for Tanzanian trade and products. »
By 2026, the train should be connected port of Dar es Salaamone of the largest on the continent, in Mwanza, in the Great Lakes region, in the north of the country. Currently in storage for cruise shipping, shipping should begin by next year. ” The modern railway, SGR, will greatly reduce travel times, improve safety and reduce transport costs, underlines Abdulkarim Atiki, political and economic analyst in Dar es Salaam. For businesses, this means fast and safe delivery of products, reducing costs by up to 40% and increasing export revenues by 20-30%. »
A downside: power outages
Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, DRC or Burundi, Tanzania wants to develop the transfer of goods and materials with its neighbors, especially in the agricultural, mining and industrial sectors, which represent more than 50 % of the country’s GDP. We therefore expect the SGR to create jobs, ensure safe transport and reduce Tanzania’s CO2 emissions. Good prospects, therefore, but which require, among other things, the stability of the electricity network often fail. Since its launch, the train has already been blocked on the tracks for several hours due to power outages.
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