Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) will tomorrow, June 27, 2026, commence official electric freight train operations on its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), transporting goods between Pugu Station on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam and Ihumwa Station in Dodoma.
According to a statement issued by the corporation, the launch marks a significant milestone in Tanzania’s efforts to modernise its railway infrastructure and enhance efficiency in the transport of cargo across regions.
TRC’s Director of Business Development, Mr Daimon Mwakaliku, said the initial phase will involve a single daily freight train departing from Pugu at 4am and arriving in Dodoma at around 2pm.
“There will be several shunting operations along the route to allow uninterrupted passage for electric passenger trains using the same SGR track,” he said.
Each wagon on the new electric freight train has a carrying capacity of 75 tonnes, nearly double that of the older metre gauge railway (MGR) wagons, which transport around 40 tonnes.
The new service is expected to ease logistical challenges faced by upcountry traders, particularly in accessing goods from Dar es Salaam, a city often plagued by traffic congestion and logistical bottlenecks.
By shifting cargo haulage to the SGR, TRC anticipates a reduction in transport costs and an improvement in delivery timelines for businesses operating in the hinterland and to neighbouring countries.
TRC’s Director of Operations, Mr Focus Makoye Sahani, said the corporation is adopting a gradual rollout strategy to ensure operational stability.
“Passenger response has been encouraging. We are starting at a manageable pace to allow systems to stabilise and build momentum with time,” Mr Sahani said.
The commencement of freight services on the SGR marks another step in the government’s broader vision of positioning railway transport as a key driver of economic growth and regional integration.
