Tanzania Launches US$2.85 Billion Tabora–Kigoma SGR Construction Project

Tanzania has commenced construction of the sixth section of its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), a major infrastructure project valued at approximately US$2.85 billion. The 506-kilometer railway line will link Tabora and Kigoma, marking another significant milestone in the country’s ongoing railway modernization program.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially launched the construction works on July 20, with the project expected to enhance transportation and economic activity across northwestern Tanzania. Once completed, the new railway will reduce travel time between Tabora and Kigoma from nearly 20 hours to around eight hours, improving the movement of passengers and freight.

Scheduled for completion in 2030, the railway is expected to lower logistics costs, boost trade competitiveness and attract new investments along the corridor. The project forms part of Tanzania’s wider SGR initiative, launched in 2017, which aims to develop a modern rail network spanning more than 1,200 kilometers.

The construction of the SGR is a key component of the government’s efforts to modernize transport infrastructure, reduce dependence on road transport, improve safety and support sustainable economic growth. The network will also strengthen regional connectivity by providing more efficient links between the Port of Dar es Salaam and neighboring landlocked countries such as Uganda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Construction is advancing on other sections of the SGR as well. The Tanzania Railways Corporation recently reported that the 341-kilometer Mwanza–Isaka section, the fifth phase of the project, has reached 68% completion, underscoring continued progress on one of East Africa’s largest railway construction programs.