The 205km first phase will run from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and is expected to be completed October 2019. A $US 1.2bn contract to build this section was awarded to Yapi Merkezi, Turkey, and Mota-Engil, Portugal, in February.

Korea’s national railway operator Korail was awarded a contract by Tanzania’s Reli Assets Holding Company on April 10 to provide consultancy services. Korail will supervising the design and construction of the standard-gauge line from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, and will begin working on the first section on May 5.

Phase one will be designed for 160km/h operation and will have six stations including a dry port at Ruvu. The line is expected to carry 17 million tonnes of freight annually.
President Magufuli says the Turkish president, Mr Recep Erdogan, expressed an interest in funding the 336km second phase from Morogoro to the capital Dodoma during his visit to Tanzania in January.

Magufuli also revealed that the World Bank is providing Shillings 300bn ($US 134.7m) to assist with the maintenance of Tanzania Railway’s 2700km metre-gauge network.

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