🔥 Trending Tanzania Launches Major SGR Railway Project Linking Tabora and Kigoma

Tanzania is actively developing a new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project that will link the cities of Tabora and Kigoma. This project is a crucial part of Tanzania's broader SGR network, which aims to modernize the country's railway infrastructure and enhance regional trade ³⁹.

Project Overview

The Tabora-Kigoma SGR section is approximately 506 kilometers long ². It represents the final phase of Tanzania's SGR project, designed to connect the port city of Dar es Salaam with western Tanzania and neighboring landlocked countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ³¹⁰. The overall SGR project is a multi-billion-dollar initiative to construct an electrified railway network spanning over 2,500 kilometers ⁹.

Key Details and Progress

• Cost: The Tabora-Kigoma section is estimated to cost TZS 5.72 trillion (approximately USD 2.2 billion) ². Other reports indicate a cost of Sh6.31 trillion for the Lot 6 linking Tabora and Kigoma ¹.
• Contractors: Two Chinese companies have been awarded the contract to construct this section ³⁴.
• Current Status: As of October 2025, the Tabora-Kigoma section had reached 7.88% completion ².
• Groundbreaking: President Samia Suluhu Hassan was expected to officiate the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lot 6 during a visit to the Kigoma Region ¹.
• Malagarasi Bridge: A significant component of this section, the Malagarasi Bridge on SGR Phase 2, Lot 6, was reported to be 96% complete, with final superstructure works, cross-beams, deck slabs, and riverbank protection ongoing ⁸.
• Integration with Kigoma Port: President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced plans to integrate the SGR with the upgraded Kigoma Port on Lake Tanganyika. This integration is expected to unlock significant trade opportunities for western Tanzania and the Great Lakes region ⁵.
• Timeline: The project is expected to reduce cargo transit costs within the nation and to neighboring countries by 2027 ⁴.

Strategic Importance

The Tabora-Kigoma SGR segment is vital for several reasons:

• Economic Integration: It will facilitate cargo transportation within Tanzania and to neighboring countries, transforming East Africa into a major cross-border trade corridor ³¹⁰.
• Reduced Costs: The railway is anticipated to significantly lower the cost of cargo transit, making trade more efficient and competitive ⁴.
• Regional Connectivity: By linking to Kigoma Port, the SGR will provide a crucial connection to Lake Tanganyika, further extending trade routes into the Great Lakes region ⁵.
• Modernization: The SGR project aims to replace the older, less efficient meter-gauge railway system, introducing modern, electrified rail transport ⁹.

The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) is the agency managing the Tanzanian SGR network, which includes the Dar es Salaam-Mwanza/Kigoma route ⁶. The government has allocated substantial funds for SGR and Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) projects, with 600 billion shillings allocated as of August 2025 ⁷.