TRANSPORTATION of goods has entered a new stage as goods now leave Dar es Salaam in the morning and are delivered in Dodoma four hours later, the railway authorities exclaim.

Focus Sahani, the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) director of transport services, made this affirmation here yesterday, highlighting the SGR freight service logistical advantage over traditional road transport.

"Moving 700 tonnes by road would need more than 20 trucks," he said, noting that the SGR freight service simplifies bulk transport and slashes turnaround time significantly.

Urging the business community to embrace the new facility, he said that initial operation just conducted is only the beginning, as TRC plans to rapidly increase the railway's capacity, to reach 1,500 tonnes and later up to 2,000 tonnes in one haul as infrastructure and operational capabilities expand.

“This kind of efficiency is a game-changer for time-sensitive cargo,” he declared, focusing on the speed and dependability of the service.

TRC has ushered in a new era of logistics efficiency, officially launching its SGR cargo train services as it promises faster, safer and more reliable freight movement for businesses across Tanzania, a turning point in the country’s logistics landscape.

The first SGR cargo train arrived at Ihumwa station here over the weekend, transporting 10 wagons holding 700 tonnes of goods from Pugu station, a freight entry point designed to decongest the city of Dar es Salaam.

Never Mwakaliku, the TRC’ director of business, expressed gratitude to Azania Group for being a major business group in the first list of clients to utilize the new freight line. Other businesses need to follow this example speed is complemented by significantly enhanced safety, he said.

With SGR cargo need not be hailed overnight on the road, he said, citing same-day delivery as reducing risks and preserving the quality of goods on delivery.

Joel Laizer, the Azania Group public relations director, confirmed the service’s reliability firsthand, pointing at the firm’s first shipment of 700 tonnes as indeed delivered within four hours.

He commended the SGR facility for reducing logistical costs and delivery uncertainty for businesses. “This service is a breakthrough,” he declared, encouraging other enterprises to adopt this transport solution to streamline operations.

SGR facilities are projected to become the backbone of freight movement in the country, reinforcing the government vision for a more efficient and resilient transport network, analysts noted.