Tanzania Receives Its First Electric Train from Korean Hyundai
As part of the Tanzania #SGR project, the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) took delivery of five Electric Multiple Unit (#EMU) trains and three passenger coaches at the Dar es Salaam port at the beginning of April 2024.
The rolling stock is built and supplied by Hyundai Rotem from South Korea. Each #EMU can carry up to 589 passengers and can run at a cruising speed of 160 kph. The train service is expected to launch in July 2024 and Hyundai has scheduled delivery of a batch of rolling stock every month up till October 2024.
The trains will be put into service on the Dar es Salaam to Morogoro line separated by a distance of 300 km. The upgraded rail will cut down travel time from 5 hours to on the old meter gauge to less than two hours on the standard gauge.
The train are equipped with modern amenities such as WiFi, security cameras, air conditioning and priority seats for persons with special needs. The new train service will certainly make the ride not only faster but also more comfortable.
It was on 14 July 2021 that the deal worth USD 296 million between TRC and Hyundai was inked. The procurement contract comprised the delivery of 17 locomotives, 10 sets of EMU and one electric locomotive simulator.
Eventually, the SGR will be extended to Mwanza on the shore of Lake Victoria. The project consists of five phases or lots which are being currently implemented by contractors from China and Turkey. At the moment, the 300-km Dar-Morogoro segment and 442-km Morogoro-Makutopora segment are nearing completion.
The other three phases, namely, Makutopora-Tabora, Tabora-Isaka and Isaka-Mwanza, are expected to be completed and operationalized by 2025.