Dar es Salaam commuter rail

The Dar es Salaam commuter rail, also called Treni ya Mwakyembe ("Train of Mwakyembe"), is a network of trains that help people travel around the busy city of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. It was created by the government to make it easier for people to get around the crowded city. There are two main ways people can travel in Dar es Salaam: by train or by bus, and this rail system is one of those options.

The trains are run by two groups: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC). These trains connect different parts of the city and nearby areas, helping many people move quickly and safely each day.

TRC Line
km 0 Pugu 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 19.95 Central Railway Station

History

Before the commuter rail started, people in Dar es Salaam mostly used small buses called Dala dala to get around the city.

The first train ride began on 29 October 2012. People called it Treni ya Mwakyembe to honor Harrison Mwakyembe, who was the Transport Minister at that time. In January 2013, there were some discussions about the project using tracks shared with Zambia, but Minister Mwakyembe said everything was done properly. Later, in December 2013, Mwakyembe received an award for starting this service. The TRC Line started on 1 August 2016, running to the airport three times in the morning and three times in the evening.

The Citizen

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

Routes

The TRC line is a 20-kilometer track that runs from Pugu Station to the city center. It passes through several stops including Gongo la Mboto, FFU Mombasa, Banana, Karakata (Airport), Vingunguti, Mbuzi, SS Bakhresa, Kamata, and ends at Kariakoo City BRT station before reaching Central.

The TAZARA line has two routes on its 20.5-kilometer network. The first goes from Dar es Salaam to Mwakanga on the city’s outskirts, stopping at several points along the way. The second route travels from Dar es Salaam to Kurasini, with stops including Kwa Fundi Umemi, Yombo, Chimwaga, Maputo, Mtoni Relini, and Kwa Aziz Ali Relini.

Operations

The Dar es Salaam commuter rail runs during busy morning and evening times on weekdays, but not on Sundays or public holidays.

TRC and TAZARA suggested different prices for a one-way trip. As of November 2013, the TRC line was spending more money than it made from tickets. The high cost was because the trains and wagons were not efficient for short trips.

In December 2019, TRC finished studying plans for six new train routes. These routes would connect different parts of the city, such as Mikocheni, Mwenge, Ubungo, Mtoni, the Central Business District, Pugu, Karakata (Airport), Wazo Hill, Bagamoyo, Vikindu Charambe, Kibiha, and Kigamboni.