Joseph Isangura
Tanzania’s new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has recorded its first derailment since electric train services began, following the mishap of an electric multiple-unit (EMU) train near Ruvu in the Coast Region on Thursday morning.
The incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. when one section of the high-speed train went off the tracks near a signal post. No injuries or fatalities were reported, but images and videos that quickly circulated online showed a portion of the sleek electric train leaning slightly off the line, stirring public debate and anxiety over the cause.
Officials from the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) confirmed that the derailment was caused by an operational fault, not a failure of the railway infrastructure. “There was a challenge in operations, not on the line. The infrastructure remained intact, except that an operational error caused the problem,” said TRC Director General Machibya Shiwa.
He assured the public that services were restored within hours and that engineers were immediately deployed to assess and address the fault. “Only two services were affected — one from Morogoro to Dar es Salaam and another scheduled for Dodoma,” Shiwa added, emphasizing that other scheduled trains continued operating normally.
A joint investigation team comprising TRC experts and officials from the Ministry of Transport has since been dispatched to determine the exact cause of the derailment. Early reports suggest the issue may have been linked to a signaling or communication lapse during train operations.
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The incident is particularly significant as it marks the first major operational setback since the SGR passenger service was inaugurated in June 2024. Until now, the line — part of Tanzania’s ambitious plan to modernize its transport network — had faced only minor technical issues, such as brief power interruptions.
The SGR, which aims to link Dar es Salaam with key inland cities like Dodoma, Morogoro, and eventually countries such as Rwanda and Burundi, is seen as a transformative project for trade and mobility in the region. It replaces the aging metre-gauge system built during the colonial era and introduces high-speed electric travel for the first time in the country.
Transport analysts have described the Ruvu derailment as a wake-up call for stricter operational oversight. “This is a learning moment. The transition to high-speed electric rail demands continuous training and systems monitoring,” said one expert.
TRC has since issued a public apology to affected passengers and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards. “We are committed to ensuring reliability and safety for all passengers. What happened in Ruvu was unfortunate, but corrective measures have already been taken,” the statement read.
