Rail transport in Tanzania
Rail transport in Tanzania is run by two companies. It has historically used narrow (metre) gauge trackage, but planning and construction of new standard gauge lines is underway as of 2025.
Railway links with adjacent countries
- Burundi - no - proposed as part of SGR project.
- DR Congo - decades ago there was a train ferry between Kigoma and Kalemie, in 2007 there are no ferry links and the DR Congo line to Kalemie is defunct because of a collapsed bridge. Break of gauge: /. Proposed as part of SGR project.
- Kenya - no, historically present - same gauge, but the link between Moshi and Voi is defunct due to rails being lifted during A103 road renovation near Voi.
- Malawi - no - break of gauge /
- Mozambique - no - break of gauge /
- Rwanda - no - proposed as part of SGR project.
- Uganda - yes - same gauge - via train ferry from Mwanza to Port Bell or Jinja.
- Zambia - yes - break of gauge /
Standard gauge development
On 31 March 2015 the Tanzanian government announced it would use $14.2 billion of commercial loans to build new rail infrastructure across the country before 2021, and make the country a regional transport hub. In June, China Railway Materials was awarded a $7.6 billion contract, primarily funded by commercial financing, to build new standard gauge lines connecting Dar es Salaam with Burundi and Rwanda. A separate $1.4 billion contract was awarded to China Railway Engineering Corporation to build a line between mines near Ludewa and the port of Mtwara. Both Chinese contracts were terminated by President John Magufuli when he took office in November 2015.In February 2017, construction companies Yapı Merkezi and Mota-Engil were jointly awarded a contract to build of track between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro, and a line connecting Isaka with Burundi and Rwanda. Construction of the Dar es Salaam-Morogoro line began in April 2017. The new line is designed to allow passenger services to travel at up to and freight services at up to. Tanzania plans to extend the line to Dodoma, and later to Kigoma and Mwanza, contingent on obtaining financing. The Dar es Salaam–Morogoro section was completed in April 2022.