THE Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) has announced new ticket prices for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train from Dar es Salaam to Makutupora in Dodoma.

The transport which is set to commence operations next month will see passengers paying fares ranging from 1,000/- to 37,000/- for those aged over 12 years, as well as between 500/- and 18,500/- for children aged between four and 12 years.

According to a statement released on Monday evening by Salum Pazzy, Head of Public Relations and Communications Department at LATRA, the fares have been set according to a decision made by the authority’s board of directors after reviewing requests by stakeholders, including Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC).

Pazzy said that for the journey from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro spanning 192 kilometres, the fare is set at 13,000/-for adults and 31,000/- from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma in standard class.

“Passengers travelling from Dar es Salaam to Ruvu in Coast Region will be charged 5,000/-, Dar es Salaam to Ngerengere in Morogoro will pay 9000/-, Dar es Salaam to Mkata (Coast) will be 16000/-, Dar es Salaam to Kilosa (Morogoro) is 18,000/-, Dar es Salaam to Kidete (Morogoro) will be 27000/- and Dar es Salaam to Bahi (Dodoma) 27,000/-,” he said.

He said the rates apply to adults while children aged from four to 12 will pay half the adult fare and a child under the age of four will not be charged.

The official said that the new rates are designed to ensure affordability while maintaining financial sustainability of the railway operations.

The fare structure takes into account the quality of service and the significant investment made in the SGR project, which represents a major step forward in modernizing Tanzania’s transportation infrastructure.

LATRA and TRC work to ensure that all systems are in place to facilitate a smooth start. This includes finalising the infrastructure, testing the trains and setting up ticketing systems to handle the expected demand.

According to the Ministry of Transport, initial operations of the electric train from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and later to Dodoma are expected to kick off 14 June ahead of the official rides on July 25.

Implementation of the SGR is expected to not only improve passenger travel but also enhance transportation of goods across the country, thereby reducing costs and improving efficiency in the logistics sector. This aligns with Tanzania’s broader economic goals of fostering regional integration and boosting trade within East African Community.