Dar es Salaam. Plans are afoot to establish a 13-kilometre commuter train route from the Central Business District (CBD) to the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) by the end of this year, the government said last week.
The project aimed at reducing traffic jams is expected to start operating by December this year or early next year.
It will be rolled out by Shumake Rails, a private company from the US, which was expected to sign a contract with the Tanzania Railways Authority last week. The firm is expected to deliver wagons for the job later in the year.
The ministry of Transport through TRL will extend the meter gauge railway from the city centre to the airport and is expected to operate under the Public Private Partnership (PPP), according to the PS, Dr Shaaban Mwinjaka.
“We are very committed to the project and as soon as the wagons arrive the route will start operating,” he said.
Upon the starting of operation the train is expected to transport an approximate of 800-1000 passengers per trip.
Dr Mwinjaka was speaking in the city after introducing a delegation of 12 US businessmen from the US who are in the country to explore investment opportunities in the transport, tourism and hospitality sectors.
The start of the project is an outcome of the tour of President Jakaya Kikwete’s tour of the United States who assured American investors wishing to do business in Tanzania of abundant opportunities available in the country.
Currently the leading investor in Tanzania is the UK.
In his words the Honorary Consul for Tanzania in the United States Mr Robert Shumake said they have come to Tanzania to explore some investment opportunities in various sectors including transport.
“We see various investment opportunities in Tanzania and we believe that we will explore as many opportunities as possible” he said.
The Citizen
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