By Adonis Byemelwa
Dar es Salaam – A technical issue in Tanzania’s new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) system caused significant schedule disruptions on Sunday, November 3, 2024, leaving several passengers stranded at various stations without prior notification.
Passengers traveling at different times on the Dar es Salaam–Dodoma route were unexpectedly delayed when scheduled departures did not occur.
The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has issued a public statement apologizing to affected passengers and users of the SGR service. According to TRC, technicians are on site working to resolve the issue swiftly to restore regular operations.
"We apologize to passengers aboard the express train (EMU) that departed Dar es Salaam for Dodoma at 8:00 AM, which stopped unexpectedly at 8:20 AM between Pugu and Soga," the TRC statement read.
"We also apologize to passengers on the 5:15 AM train from Dodoma and the 9:30 AM train from Dar es Salaam, as well as for any other trips impacted today."
The interruption comes only three days after the SGR’s official launch on November 1, 2024, which marked the first passenger service journey from the new Magufuli Station in Dar es Salaam to the Samia Central Station in Dodoma.
Designed with engines at both the front and rear for added power and maneuverability, the EMU trains can accommodate 589 passengers and travel at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.
Transport experts suggest that establishing a robust real-time monitoring system and frequent maintenance checks could help avoid similar disruptions in the future, providing passengers with greater reliability and preventing schedule delays.
The TRC has assured passengers that technicians are diligently addressing the issue, vowing to get services back on track as soon as possible.