The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has officially launched container cargo transportation using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), a major step aimed at expanding trade, improving logistics, and strengthening the country’s transport infrastructure.
The service is expected to reduce congestion at seaports, lower transportation costs, and provide a faster and more reliable option for moving goods from Dar es Salaam to central regions, including Morogoro and Dodoma.
Speaking during the inaugural journey of the first container freight train from Pugu to Ihumwa in Dodoma Region, Acting Director of Transport at TRC, Focus Makoye Sahani, said the train covers a distance of approximately 420 kilometers from Dar es Salaam.
He explained that the launch of container transportation builds on TRC’s earlier operations transporting passengers and various types of cargo, including agricultural produce and construction materials such as cement.
“This initiative expands our services to support trade and logistics across the country. The first container train to Ihumwa has officially commenced operations, with strong interest from our first customer,” said Sahani.
The train consists of 50 freight wagons carrying a total of 100 containers. TRC has begun container loading operations at Pugu, while infrastructure improvements continue at key facilities, including Malindi Yard near the Gerezani area, to ensure efficient and safe handling of cargo.
Sahani noted that the project aligns with national efforts to decongest ports and improve inland cargo handling through the establishment of Inland Container Depots (ICDs).
ICDs have been designated in Morogoro and Ihumwa to serve businesses in central and southern highland regions.
The Morogoro ICD, located about 193 kilometers from Dar es Salaam, will serve customers transporting goods to regions such as Mbeya and Iringa, while cargo destined for Dodoma will be handled at the Ihumwa ICD, which has ample space and modern infrastructure to manage large volumes of containers.
TRC encourages businesses and transporters to use rail as a safe, affordable, and efficient alternative to road transport for long-distance cargo movement.
This marks the first time TRC has deployed container carrier wagons since the start of SGR cargo operations on June 27, 2026.
In December 2024, TRC received 264 SGR freight wagons, including 200 container carriers and 64 wagons designed for loose cargo, further strengthening its capacity to support trade and logistics nationwide.