SHUTTLE bus services for passengers traveling on the standard gauge railway (SGR) speed trains to connect from SGR stations to key destinations in urban areas is expected to start today. Fredrick Massawe, acting business development director for the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) said at a weekend press conference that TRC has entered into a strategic partnership with Faima General Supply Co. Ltd. to provide such services.

The shuttle service is designed to improve connectivity, enhance convenience and widening economic opportunities in Dodoma and Morogoro regions via SGR use, he said, affirming that the shuttle initiative is aimed at addressing the ‘last mile’ challenge often faced by commuters who struggle to get to SGR stations or finding buses on alighting from speed trains.

He said the service is an extension of the government’s massive investment in the SGR project, intended to modernize transport while providing room for private sector participation.

 “By linking SGR passengers directly to the road transport network, we are making travel easier and more convenient. This partnership demonstrates the potential for public-private collaboration to stimulate business and economic growth in the areas served,” he said.

Local and international investors need to take advantage of opportunities arising from the railway line and the revitalized meter gauge railway (MGR), as partnerships will ensure that the transport sector evolve as a reliable driver of economic development, he said.

Safina Abraham, the Faima General Supply spokesperson, said the firm has purchased 15 modern buses to launch the first phase of the service, expected to yield up to 60 employment opportunities for drivers, conductors, maintenance mechanics and support staff.

The buses can transport up to 472 passengers at once in Dodoma and 180 passengers in Morogoro, she said, asserting that the firm is “proud to join forces with TRC in enhancing passenger experiences.”

 “This partnership is a great honor for us, and we assure the public that our services will meet TRC’s high standards of quality and safety,” she stated, affirming that the buses will be reliable, comfortable and efficient, ensuring that passengers can easily complete their journeys from the SGR stations to their destinations.

In Morogoro, the shuttle service will cover stops like Viwandani, Msamvu bus terminal, Masika, and the old bus stand. In Dodoma, with designated stops includimh Nanenane bus terminal, Machinga Complex and Shoppers Plaza.

The move is also seen as part of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s broader vision to strengthen public-private partnerships in strategic sectors. “By enabling private firms to complement public investment in infrastructure, the initiative is expected to improve service delivery and ensure that the benefits of large-scale projects like the SGR are widely shared,” the official noted.

For passengers, the new shuttle network is expected to reduce travel time, cut transport costs and improve accessibility to SGR serviced, while for businesses it opens opportunities for trade, logistics and increased economic activity along the transport corridor.

With this development, TRC is not only enhancing the attractiveness of the SGR but also setting a precedent for how collaboration with the private sector can address gaps in service delivery and unlock broader socio-economic gains, the director added.