MWANZA-ISAKA SGR CONSTRUCTION REACHES 63% COMPLETION IN TANZANIA

As of February 2025, the construction of Tanzania's Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) between Mwanza and Isaka in Shinyanga has reached 63% completion. This 249-kilometer section, known as Lot 5, includes an additional 92 kilometers of passing loops. The project is being executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway Construction Company (CRCC) at an estimated cost of $1.321 billion (approximately TShs 3.45 trillion).

During a recent inspection in Malampaka Town, Simiyu Region, Transport Minister Prof. Makame Mbarawa highlighted significant progress: embankment works are 89% complete, and bridges and culverts have surpassed 70% completion. The remaining 37% of the project is expected to proceed without delay, even during the rainy season.

Once operational, this SGR segment is anticipated to enhance regional trade by facilitating efficient transportation of goods from the Lake Zone to the Port of Dar es Salaam, thereby boosting both the local and national economies.

The Mwanza-Isaka segment is a pivotal component of Tanzania's broader SGR initiative, which aims to modernize the country's rail infrastructure and enhance connectivity across East Africa. 

The entire SGR network, spanning approximately 2,000 kilometers, is being developed in multiple phases:​

• Phase 1: Dar es Salaam to Morogoro (300 km)​
• Phase 2: Morogoro to Makutupora (422 km)​
• Phase 3: Makutupora to Tabora (294 km)​
• Phase 4: Tabora to Isaka (130 km)​
• Phase 5: Isaka to Mwanza (249 km)​
• Phase 6: Tabora to Kigoma (506 km)

The SGR is designed to facilitate high-speed and efficient transportation, with passenger trains operating at speeds up to 160 km/h and freight trains at 120 km/h. The railway features a 1,435 mm gauge and is constructed to handle an axle load of 35 tons.

In December 2024, the African Development Bank led a $1.2 billion financing syndication to support the construction of the 411-kilometer Tabora to Kigoma section. This investment underscores the project's significance in bolstering regional trade and integration by connecting Tanzania's port of Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean to the port of Mwanza on Lake Victoria, with further links to neighboring countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.

The SGR project is poised to revolutionize Tanzania's transportation landscape, offering a modern, efficient, and reliable rail system that will stimulate economic growth and regional connectivity.​