Rail transport in Tanzania is conducted by two companies (Tanzania Railways Corporation and TAZARA). It has historically used narrow gauge trackage, but planning and construction of new standard gauge lines is underway as of 2017.

Railway links with adjacent countries

The central line between Kigoma and Dar es Salaam carries international freight and passengers in transit from Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda to the Indian Ocean, and the branch from Tabora to Mwanza carries freight and passengers between Uganda and the Indian Ocean. →

Standard gauge development

On 31 March 2015 the Tanzanian government announced it would use $14.2 billion of commercial loans to build new rail infrastructure across the country before 2021, and make the country a regional transport hub. In June, China Railway Materials was awarded a $7.6 billion contract, primarily funded by commercial financing, to build new standard gauge lines connecting Dar es Salaam with Burundi and Rwanda. A separate $1.4 billion contract was awarded to China Railway Engineering Corporation to build a line between mines near Ludewa and the port of Mtwara. Both Chinese contracts were terminated by President John Magufuli when he took office in November 2015. In February 2017, construction companies Yapı Merkezi and Mota-Engil were jointly awarded a contract to build 207 km of track between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro, and a 400 km line connecting Isaka with Burundi and Rwanda. Construction of the Dar es Salaam–Morogoro line began in April, with service expected to begin in 2019. The new line is designed to allow passenger services to travel at up to 160 km/h and freight services at up to 120 km/h. Tanzania plans to extend the line to Dodoma, and later to Kigoma and Mwanza, contingent on obtaining financing. The first phase (Dar es Salaam–Morogoro Section) has been completed in April 2022.

Proposed line

Maps