Tanzania plans US$330m rail upgrade

A planned US$330- million upgrade of the three Tanzanian rail operators Tazara, ZRL and SNCC is expected to ease the f low of cargo within Tanzania, as well as to and from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A tripartite agreement has been signed to harmonise operations in the East African railway sector. The contract is expected to provide better connectivity in transportation of goods and passengers in the three states. According to Dr. Damas Daniel Ndumbaro, deputy managing director at Tazara, the acquisition of new locomotives and other measures by management are expected to increase the tonnage of cargo that it hauls. Damas is one of the speakers at the second Annual African Railway Summit, which is being hosted in Gauteng in November.