Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) signed an agreement with CRRC International from China on 8 February 2022 at its headquarters conference room for the purchase of 1,430 freight wagons, worth US$127.2 million, to be used on the modern railways.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Government and the Organisation, the Minister of Public Works and Transport (official guest of honour of the event), Hon. Prof. Makame Mbarawa, the Chairman of the TRC Board of Directors, the Director General of TRC, Mr. Masanja Kadogosa, representatives of CRRC International, TRC management and staff as well as journalists.
According to the Director General of TRC, it is a 12-month contract that will include the design and manufacture of wagons for the transportation of various types of goods and that the types of wagons that will be purchased under this agreement are, 600 CCB (Container Carrier Bogie) wagons for the transportation of suitcases, 400 CLB (Covered Large Bogie) wagons for the transportation of general cargo, including sugar, concrete, salt, cotton, tobacco and coffee, 190 PTB (Petroleum Tank Bogie) wagons for the transport of all types of fuel, 70 HLB (High Large Bogie) wagons for the transport of pipes, wood, logs and metals, 50 MGB (Motor Goods Bogie) wagons for the transport of vehicles and 50 CWB (Cattle Wagon Bogie) wagons for the transport of cows.
Hon. Prof. Makame Mbarawa, Minister of Works and Transport said that “due to the large capacity of modern railways, these wagons will greatly reduce congestion at the port of Dar es Salaam where one train will be able to carry 10,000 tonnes at a time, which is equivalent to 500 trucks.
The Tanzania Railway Corporation expects the wagons to arrive in early February 2023, which will coincide with the completion of the second phase of the Morogoro – Makutupora modern railway construction project, which by this distance will be able to bring productivity and cost efficiency to the operation of the freight service.
