The Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is a railway system, under construction, linking the country to the neighboring countries of Rwanda and Uganda, and through these two, to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The new US $14.2bn Tanzania SGR, is intended to replace the old, inefficient metre-gauge railway system and reduce road congestion. It is also expected to decrease freight costs by 40%. Each freight train is expected to transport up to 10,000 tonnes, equivalent to 500 lorry-loads. The project is being implemented in 5 phases.
Phase 1: Dar es Salaam–Morogoro Section
The 300km section was contracted to a 50/50 consortium of Yapi Merkezi of Turkey and Mota-Engil of Portugal. Construction began in April 2017 and as of February 2019, 42% of this section was reported as complete. In May the same year, it was announced that the section was 60% complete and that the first passenger trains are expected to start service in December 2019. By June 2020 the work was 82% complete. This section will have six stations: Dar es Salaam, Pugu, Soga, Ruvu, Ngerengere and Morogoro.
Phase 2: Morogoro–Makutopora Section
This section was also contracted to the Yapi Merkezi and Mota-Engil consortium. The 426km line stretches from Morogoro through Dodoma to Makutopora in Singida. In September 2018, the government of Tanzania secured a US$1.46bn soft loan from Standard Chartered Bank, for the funding of this section. The stations after Morogoro will be Mkata, Kilosa, Kidete, Gulwe, Igunda, Dodoma, Bahi and Makutopora.
Phase 3: Makutopora–Isaka Section
This 435km stretch from Makutopora through Tabora to Isaka is yet to be awarded to contractor.
Phase 4: Isaka–Mwanza Section
This 220km stretch from Isaka to the city of Mwanza, on the southern shores of Lake Victoria has not been awarded to a contractor.
Phase 5: Isaka–Rusumo Section
This 371km stretch of the SGR is component of the Isaka–Kigali Standard Gauge Railway. Construction of this section is budgeted at US $942m. The section is also yet to be awarded to a contractor.
Extract from constructionreviewonline.com