Tazara passenger train now resumes operations after 50-day suspension

By  The Citizen Reporter Media/news company Mwananchi Communications Limited

What you need to know:

• The authority suspension of operations adversely affected the free movement of goods between the two countries that have been historically cooperating in trade, resulting in losses to the majority of players.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) has announced the resumption of train operations in different destinations, including the Dar es Salaam-Kapiri Mposhi route.

The authority suspension of operations adversely affected the free movement of goods between the two countries that have been historically cooperating in trade, resulting in losses to the majority of players.

Announcing the resumption of normal train operations through a statement dated May 21, 2024, the authority’s head of public affairs, Mr Conrad Simuchile, said operations in the mainline were suspended due to landslides following downpours that hit different parts of the country, especially the Mlimba-Makambako area of Tanzania.

“The Kilimanjaro ordinary passenger train (cross-border) will commence its journey from Dar es Salaam to the New Kapiri-Mposhi on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 13:50 hrs (1:50pm),” reads the statement aimed at notifying the public about the resumption of normal train operations.

“Mukuba express passenger train (cross-border), which is the first cross-border journey, will depart from New Kapiri-Mposhi to Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 16:00 hrs (4:00pm),” reads another part of the notice.

Furthermore, the notice shows that the Kilimanjaro ordinary passenger train for the inaugural journey would depart from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 18:00 hrs (6:00pm).

According to the notice, the Udzungwa shuttle passenger’s first journey would depart from Makambako to Kidatu on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 19:00 hrs (7:00pm).

The notice shows that the Dar es Salaam commuter passenger train carrying normal route operations from Dar es Salaam to Mwakanga was expected to resume its routes on Monday, May 27, 2024.

“All trains will adhere to their regular schedules thereafter. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our customers for their patience and understanding during the past seven weeks, when train services were operating below normal capacity due to the mainline closures,” reads the statement.