Media Wire Express Correspondent
Tanzania’s Railway Corporation (TRC) has launched its first official test run for the country’s first electric train from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro.
Chief Government Spokesperson and Director of Information Service (Maelezo) in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology, Mobhare Matinyi said at the inaugural session the government was eying to connect the neighboring countries with Standard Gauge Railway.
“This is a history in the making. It’s a pride for Tanzania and the entire East and Central Africa,” he said.
The new electric locomotive is anticipated to transform people’ live and way of doing business providing fast, safe and affordable means of transport. The 160km/h train would be of great value to travelers and businessmen.
TRC received three electric locomotive engines and 27 brand-new passenger coaches in December last year.
The delivery increased the locomotives to four and 56 coaches.
TRC’s Chief Executive Officer, Masanja Kadogosa said the test run for the second section between Morogoro and Makutopora will be commissioned next month.
Construction work for Dar es Salaam and Morogoro started on May 2, 2017 costing Sh trillion 2.7. It included the creation of a 2.56 km viaduct for the electric train from Dar es Salaam Station to Ilala, strategically designed to mitigate pedestrian and vehicular congestion in Dar es Salaam.
The project also includes the construction of 26 major bridges and 243 smaller ones, forming crucial links from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro. These bridges comprise 17 overhead crossings for pedestrians, animals, and tall vehicles, along with 15 underpasses.
There are six stations along the route, featuring two major stations in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro, and four smaller stations in Pugu, Soga, Ruvu, and Ngerengere.
Source:Daily News
