THE first six of 30 former DB Regio double-deck coaches exported to Tanzania arrived by ship from the Baltic port of Mukran in Germany in early June.
The ex-DB coaches, purchased by German firm Lückemeier Transport and Logistic from German Rail (DB) in 2022, were overhauled at Mukran by Baltic Port Services and repainted in the white and orange livery of Tanzania Railways (TRC). The interiors retain DB Regio seating.
The coaches will be used by TRC on the new 25kV ac electrified Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro which is nearing completion, and which will be extended to the Rwandan border.
Work to extend the line beyond Morogoro to Mwanza on Lake Victoria is underway with the 422km Morogoro - Makutupora section now 94% complete.
TRC has previously obtained former Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) multi-system class 1014 electric locomotives that can operate on both 15kV and 25kV ac to carry out testing on the new line before it opens.
TRC has also ordered new coaches from Korea, with 14 of the 59 ordered from Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology Company now delivered with the remainder due later this month. Hyundai Rotem is supplying 10 EMUs and 17 electric locomotives and delivery of the first EMU and two locomotives is also expected this month. Production of the remainder is around 40% complete.
The new 160km/h SGR is expected to cut the journey time between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro to around 2 hours, compared with 4 hours by coach and 5 hours by rail on the existing 1000mm-gauge line.
