YESTERDAY marked the realization of a long-term aspiration with the inaugural journey of the electric-powered standard gauge railway (SGR) train, accommodating more than 1000 passengers, from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.

Masanja Kadogosa, the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) director general, told journalists in the capital shortly after the train arrival that TRC had succeeded in implementing the government directives that SGR services ought to start by the end of July this year.

“The president directed that by that time the SGR electric-powered train transport from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma must have officially started and this is what happened and the dreams have now come true,” he remarked.

"Today we left Dar es Salaam at around 6am and arrived in Dodoma at around 10am as we stopped somewhere on the way for another train to pass,” he said, expressing the view that the train services will maintain the standard speed.

The bookings for the morning train were already full at the time of departure, which the top executive expected would be the case for the evening train. When the trend is convincing the number of trips will be increased as in the case of Dar es Salaam to Morogoro trips, he stated. 

Acknowledging that the demand for speed train travel by passengers was quite high, intimating that the reason was the people's trust in the services, as many would-be travellers missed the opportunity to travel by the first haul yesterday.

Habibu Suluo, the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) director general lauded the successful start of the first modern train journey from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.

Appealing to the public to help take care of the rail infrastructure for which a large amount of money was spent to achieve the strategic project, he said LATRA was working to rectify problems noticed in the new transport facility to give more people an opportunity to use it.

Road inspections were being conducted at the moment to eliminate occasional challenges, he said, asking passengers to book tickets early to avoid inconveniences. Morning radio pundits yesterday noted that some people buying tickets online could not be ascertained as eligible passengers upon arrival at the departure point.

Amina Hassan, a train passenger, said that the modern train will be a savior for all groups due to cutting down travel time, unlike regular buses or the older diesel trains.

Rev Christina Daniel of the Anglican Church parish at Chanika, Ilala District, said that the new speed train was standard, cheap, and fast, praising this achievement and the services offered by TRC.

Ruben Mtaita, a resident of Tabata in Ilala district also on the train, said that the modern train services were a big step ahead, while Zakaria Daniel, from Kigamboni District, called on the public to use train travel as it is cheap and fast.

“I’m traveling to Dodoma with my nine friends. Indeed it is fast modern and standard transport in the country,” he said.

The SGR project is implemented in phases, with lots one and two already completed, running from Dar es Salaam to Makutupora via Morogoro and Dodoma.