The Train VIII

On these not so popular train trips, I am on the 8^th chapter of them. This chapter saw me take a bus down again to our neighboring country Tanzania to experience their new train.

Tanzania under the Late president started a project to install an electric train that will slice the country into halves starting from the coastal capital Dar es Salaam. Politics aside, this project has truly been well executed and certainly they thought through this to serve the whole country. I bet when that rail is complete to the western part of the country it will be a great convenience for the country to leave alone how much it will earn the country.

#TheHistory

This link here will give you a rough idea of the history you are about to read in brief http://www.mccrow.org.uk/eastafrica/eastafricanrailways/KampalaNairobi.htm just for context

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were once under a regional blanket of a train transport corporation but that fell apart, and countries were left to grapple with their own problems. The thing about this breaks up, I would say was just pure politics and mismanagement of public intuitions from our politicians and leaders. If this corporation was just let to bud and grow, we would have a more sufficient rail line and transport would greatly improve between East African countries but then again remember what President Trump once called us? Yes we are exactly that and If you refer to The Train VII to the USA, you would understand why.

Just before his demise, under the new Tanzania Railways Corporation, the late Tanzanian president commissioned this project in partnership with a Turkish company. I am guessing the whole idea was to follow the old track to the western side of the country but pass through the major towns. The bigger picture is that the track is to go all the way to DRC. Please note they already have a train, the Tazara train that connects to Zambia(The Train III), so this new one follows a more northerly route. I bet on completion Tanzania will be well connected and will flourish from this train services

For now, the track is at Dodoma and yes quite some good work they have done as a country. There are other older trains feed the main line, thus if you are from distant town and want to connect to the main line which will soon have the SGR track, get a train from your town that terminates somewhere along the main dissecting line.

#TheTrain

Hoping by now you understand that SGR is a technology and not a train, this train in Tanzania starts off from the coastal city and goes westwards at over 120km/hr. Passengers can easily book their SGR train tickets online at the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) website(http://sgrticket.trc.co.tz/home/index). And if you are adventurous enough you can plan a trip and use the local mobile money services to pay for your ticket.

The Train has 2 main scenarios (Express that is direct without much stops along and Ordinary that ideally stops at each station along the way) that are further broken down to 2 schedule for each. From Dar there are 3 morning Express trains (6am, 8am and 9.30am) and one ordinary train at ( 6pm). From Dodoma there 1 morning  and 1 evening Express trains (5am and 6pm) and 2 ordinary trains (2pm and 5pm)

Once on the train

The SGR train service in Tanzania is great news for travelers and businesses. Passengers get to enjoy modern comforts like air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and food. This makes traveling by train a better choice. Prices vary depending on class and time of travel

The Standard Class, or “Daraja la Kawaida,” is the most budget-friendly option for SGR train travel in Tanzania. Sgr standard class fares are set to be affordable for many passengers. For instance, a trip from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma costs about TZS 25,000 to TZS 35,000, depending on the train and time of travel.

There are also sgr express train fares and sgr premium class options for those wanting a better travel experience.The Premium Class, or “Daraja la Juu,” offers more comfort and amenities. The sgr premium class options might include bigger seats, more space to stretch, and special lounges or dining areas and cost and average of TZS 70,000

This train is well packed and used by many travelers, therefore it’s important you plan your trip very well and book early if you can. If you have use the premium class is okay but the standard class suffices and comfortable enough (not like our train in Kenya which is just annoying in many levels. Like seriously why do we need sniffer dogs? why?)

The facilities in the stations are standard and well planned with ramps, elevators and all. Unlike the Tazara train station, even the tickets just felt perfect. One interesting thing I experienced is that you reserve a ticket on one window, pay on a separate one and collect the ticket from another. Maybe that was to reduce the line but for such a service you can imagine the confusion and the lines. The trains are well on time, and this has majorly assisted the locals with planning their life and work schedules.

NB. fares and schedules could have changed by the time you travel but keep tabs with the TRC website.

#Conclusion

This one needs to be redone when the line is completed, and in fact from their official twitter feed seems they are in plans to get funds to complete the line so into neighboring countries.

This train truly had the interest of the locals in mind because it (will) serves the whole country at one point. Schedules and fees are shifting a lot, meaning this is a service well sort after by the locals. Read https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/operator-reports-overwhelming-response-for-tanzania-sgr-services-4685190

Side note – If you are in Tanzania and want to go to Zanzibar they have introduced an insurance cover for $44 for all visitors

All in all, this was a great experience that gives a lot of hope that some day we shall see quality of services from a government.