Dar es Salaam / Morogoro. The government has directed the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) to place public safety above operational pressure by issuing timely information whenever potential risks to rail infrastructure are identified, even if this necessitates the postponement or suspension of train services.
The directive was issued by the Prime Minister, Dr Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba, on January 2, 2025, during his visit to the Kidete area in Morogoro Region, where he was inspecting damage caused by heavy rains that have affected key infrastructure, including a railway bridge.
Dr Nchemba said the government had received preliminary reports indicating damage around the bridge area, noting that continuous water flow had weakened the river embankment.
Although the pillars and the general rail structure appeared intact, the situation posed a potential safety risk that could not be ignored.
According to TRC officials, nearly half of the affected bridge section had collapsed over a distance of about 30 metres, particularly in areas where the pillars are located within the river.
He said the situation requires a comprehensive safety assessment before normal rail operations can proceed.
Addressing residents during the inspection, the Prime Minister urged TRC engineers and technical experts to issue warnings to the public without hesitation whenever signs of danger are detected.
He stressed that decisions to defer or suspend train services are standard safety measures intended to protect lives, not a failure of operations.
He further noted that safety remains the overriding principle in all modes of transport globally, including railways, aviation and maritime services, where operations are routinely halted when weather conditions or environmental factors pose a risk.
He cited examples from Europe, where modern railway systems have temporarily suspended services due to heavy rainfall or strong winds that could interfere with electric systems, as well as cases where flights are delayed or cancelled in snow-prone regions for safety reasons.
Dr Nchemba underscored that no pressure should compel operators to continue services when safety standards have not been met, emphasising that the lives of Tanzanians are far more valuable than adherence to transport timetables.
Meanwhile, TRC has released a revised public timetable for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) services between Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Dodoma, effective January 3, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to keep passengers informed amid changing operational conditions.
According to the schedule, express SGR services depart Dar es Salaam at 06.00 am, arriving in Morogoro at 7.40 am and reaching Dodoma at 9.42 am, while return express services leave Dodoma at 05.15 am, arriving in Morogoro at 07.12 am and Dar es Salaam at 08.53 am.
The EMU express train services operate from Dar es Salaam at 08.00 am, arriving in Dodoma at 11.15 am, and from Dodoma at 06.40 pm., reaching Dar es Salaam at 09.55 pm.
Ordinary SGR services are also scheduled, including a departure from Dar es Salaam at 09.30 am, arriving in Dodoma at 01 pm, and return services from Dodoma at 02.15 pm and 05.15 pm, reaching Dar es Salaam at 06.10 pm and 09.10 pm respectively.
An evening ordinary service departs Dar es Salaam at 06.55 pm, arriving in Dodoma at 11.01 pm.
In addition, TRC has announced ordinary SGR shuttle services between Morogoro and Dar es Salaam, with a morning departure from Morogoro at 09.50 am, arriving in Dar es Salaam at 11.40 am, and an afternoon service leaving Dar es Salaam at 04.00 pm and reaching Morogoro at 05.40 pm.
TRC said the publication of detailed timetables forms part of its commitment to transparency and passenger safety, particularly at a time when heavy rains have continued to affect infrastructure in several parts of the country.
The corporation reiterated that any changes to services would be communicated promptly in line with the Prime Minister’s directive that safety must always come first.
