Dar es Salaam commuter rail

The Dar es Salaam commuter rail, informally known as Treni ya Mwakyembe ("Train of Mwakyembe"), is an urban and suburban commuter rail network serving the Tanzanian commercial city of Dar es Salaam.[3] It is one of the two initiatives taken by the government to ease travel within the congested city; the other being the Dar es Salaam bus rapid transit system. Services are provided by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL).

Dar es Salaam commuter rail
Huduma ya Treni ya Jiji la Dar es Salaam (Swahili)
The TAZARA station.
The TAZARA station.
Overview
OwnerTanzanian Government
LocaleRailway Street, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Transit typeCommuter rail
Number of lines2
Number of stations23
Daily ridership16,000[1]
Websitewww.mwtc.go.tz
Operation
Began operation29 October 2012
Operator(s)TAZARA
Tanzania Railways
Technical
System length32 km (20 mi)[2]
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead catenary (planned)
TRL Line
km
0
 Pugu Station
3.32
 Gongo la Mboto
5.51
 FFU Mombasa
7.31
 Banana
9.41
 Karakata (Airport)
11.31
 Vingunguti Mbuzi
14.31
 SS Bakhresa
Nelson Mandela Expressway
Kawawa Road
17.80
 Kamata Dar es Salaam bus rapid transit
19.95
 Central Railway Station
TAZARA Line
 TAZARA Station
 Kwa Fundi Umeme
Kwa Limboa
Yombo
Lumo Kigilagila
Chimwaga
Sigara
Maputo
Kitunda Road
Mtoni Relini
Kipunguni B
Kwa Aziz Ali Relini
Majohe
Kurasini
Magnus
Mwakanga

History

Background

Prior to its launch, the Dala dala was the only major means of intracity public transport.

Launch

The inaugural journey commenced on 29 October 2012.[4][5] The public affectionately refer to it as Treni ya Mwakyembe in honour of Harrison Mwakyembe, the Transport Minister at the time.[6]

The Citizen reported in January 2013 that 'Zambia was opposed' to the project utilising the TAZARA track and that it wasn't 'properly consulted'. Zambian officials insisted that the matter ought to have been brought before the board of directors for approval as both the governments are equal shareholders.[7] Minister Mwakyembe refuted these allegations saying all procedures were adhered to. An anonymous TAZARA board member commented that they had failed to convene their quarterly meeting for the past six months.[8]

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport presented an award to Mwakyembe in December 2013 for introducing this service.[9]

The TRL Line launched on 1 August 2016, plying the airport route 3 times in the morning from 6 am and 3 times in the evening from 15.55 hours.

Routes

TRC line

Tanzania Railways (1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)) operates a 20.0 km (12.4 mi) track from Pugu Station to the city centre via Gongo la Mboto, FFU mombasa, Banana, Karakata(Airport), Vingunguti Mbuzi, SS Bakhresa, Kamata(Kariakoo City BRT station) then finally Central.[10]

TAZARA line

TAZARA (1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)) offers two routes on its 20.5 km (12.7 mi) rail network.[11] The first from its station in Dar es Salaam to Mwakanga which lies on the outskirts of the city. It stops at Kwa Fundi Umeme, Kwa Limboa, Lumo Kigilagila, Sigara, Kitunda road, Kipunguni B, Majohe and Magnus. The second service runs from its Dar es Salaam station to Kurasini via Kwa Fundi Umeme, Yombo, Chimwaga, Maputo, Mtoni Relini and Kwa Aziz Ali Relini.[12]

Operations

The service is available during the morning and evening rush hours throughout the week (excluding Sundays and public holidays).

Ticket pricing

TRL and TAZARA had proposed a fare of Tsh 800 (US$0.50) and 700 respectively for a single journey.[13] However, the Surface and Marine Transportation Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) capped the adult fares at Tsh 600 (US$0.27) and 500 whilst students are charged Tsh 100 (US$0.07).[14]

Finance

In May 2013, TAZARA line reported an increase in revenue from Tsh 40 to 50 million.[15]

As of November 2013, the TRL line has been operating at a loss. It costs Tsh 4 million per day to run this segment whereas revenue stands at Tsh 2 million.[16] The high operating cost has been attributed to the engines and wagons which aren't cost efficient for short journeys.[17]

Future expansion

RAHCO, the holding company of TRL, issued a tender in September 2013 inviting bids for feasibility studies and the design of new railway lines from its central station to four destinations: Luguruni (Morogoro Road), Chamazi (Kilwa Road), Pugu (via Julius Nyerere International Airport) and Kerenge.[18]

Incidents
  • On 26 January 2015, the TAZARA line went astray and on the wrong track line.[19]

See also

References
  1. "Start of Dar Commuter train". pesatimes.com. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  2. MUCHIRA, JOHN (22 June 2012). "Tanzania moves to revive Dar commuter rail service". engineeringnews.co.za. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  3. "Dar es Salaam launches first commuter trains". BBC News. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  4. Mwachang`A, Devota (30 October 2012). "Dar residents happy with commuter train services". IPP Media. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  5. Mtweve, Sturmius (29 October 2012). "… Most residents were unaware". The Citizen (Tanzania). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  6. Masha, Marycelina (29 October 2012). "Dar commuter trains easing transport nightmares". Daily News (Tanzania). Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  7. Kolumbia, Louis (7 January 2013). "Zambia feels cheated on commuter project". The Citizen. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  8. "Minister: Tazara commuter rail services proper". The Citizen. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  9. "Mwakyembe wins prize for train services". The Citizen. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  10. PETER, FELISTER (2 October 2012). "Dar commuter train service set to begin mid this month". IPP Media. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  11. Kolumbia, Louis (29 October 2012). "Dar train services begin". The Citizen (Tanzania). Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  12. KAZOKA, LUDOVICK (27 October 2012). "Dar Commuter Train Starts on Monday". Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  13. RUGONZIBWA, PIUS (29 October 2012). "Views On Dar es Salaam Train Fares Halted". Daily News (Tanzania). Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  14. ONYANGO, EMMANUEL (27 October 2012). "Dar Commuter train takes off Monday". IPP Media. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  15. "Tazara's monthly commuter train collections slightly up". IPP Media. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  16. Nachilongo, Hellen (11 November 2013). "A train ride worth Sh2m loss". Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  17. wa Nyoka, Kiangiosekazi (20 July 2013). "Machiavellian way of doing things". Daily News (Tanzania). Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  18. "TENDER No. PA/003/2013-14/C/06" (PDF). Reli Assets Holding Company. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  19. Joel, Lawi (27 January 2015). "Narrow save as Mwakyembe train runs on wrong track". Daily News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.

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