Tanzania's overall standard-gauge rail program is divided into five sections, called lots. Map courtesy of Yapi Merkezi

Turkish contractor Yapi Merkezi late last month signed a $1.9-billion turnkey contract for the construction of 368 kilometers of electrified standard gauge railway (SGR) in Tanzania comprising all infrastructure works and the materials and systems for the trackwork, catenary power supply, signaling and telecommunications.

This is the third construction contract for the firm, which holds two other contracts for the overall SGR project—the 300-km Phase One connecting East Africa’s second biggest port of Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and the 426-km. Phase Two linking Morogoro to Makutupora. Phase 3 of the railway line is the third of five in the construction of a 1,219-km line linking Tanzania to neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. “We are expecting to commence construction within the first quarter of 2022,” said Başar Arıoğlu, chairman of Yapı Merkezi Construction and Industry, the flagship of the Yapi Merkezi Group and Yapı Merkezi Holding.

This portion of the SGR line links Makutupora and Tabora with seven stations at Manyoni, Itigi, Tura, Malongwe, Goweko, Igalula and Tabora. The SGR trains will travel as high as160km/hr.

“Decorative elements obtained from Tanzania’s rich and colorful culture will be reflected in the design of station exteriors and interiors. Such cultural elements will also be used in visible sections of the line, such as viaducts and bridges,” says Arıoğlu.

The line, which will be constructed over a 46-month period, will increase Tanzania’s total investment in the SGR network to $6.3 billion.

Basar says the SGR line will handle higher axle loads and faster speeds and significantly increase the transportation capacity along the alignment, resulting in reduced costs for cargo and faster and comfortable rides for passengers.

“Most importantly, reduced carbon emissions will protect the world-renowned natural treasures of Tanzania and as a continuation of the previous two lots of the SGR, cargo trains will help decongest of the port of Dar es Salaam by ensuring goods that arrive at the port are moved towards destinations inland without delays and with ease,” he added.

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan has stated that her government is unable to finance the huge railway project using domestically generated revenues, and is pushing for concessional loans to finance a total of 2561 km of the SGR network concurrently with the improvement of the existing meter gauge line, which is narrower. Both lines are running parallel to each other.

Arıoğlu says the third phase passes through a terrain that is “mainly characterized by smooth topography, excluding the portion from Makutupora to Manyoni with two steep climbing sections with a total length of 30 kilometers.”

“One of the biggest challenges is the unknown regarding the actual topography and geotechnical conditions of the route, which were not fully available to the contractor at the tendering stage,” he adds.

Planning of the drainage and movement of water around the new line is a major engineering challenge and an important factor for the safe operation and durability of the SGR system, Basar notes. “The progress of the works could be affected by such activities as relocations and expropriations that must be carried out according to the principles set out in Environmental and Social Action Plans." - Shem Oirere, 

Turkish contractor Yapi Merkezi late last month signed a $1.9-billion turnkey contract for the construction of 368 kilometers of electrified standard gauge railway (SGR) in Tanzania comprising all infrastructure works and the materials and systems for the trackwork, catenary power supply, signaling and telecommunications.

This is the third construction contract for the firm, which holds two other contracts for the overall SGR project—the 300-km Phase One connecting East Africa’s second biggest port of Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and the 426-km. Phase Two linking Morogoro to Makutupora. Phase 3 of the railway line is the third of five in the construction of a 1,219-km line linking Tanzania to neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. “We are expecting to commence construction within the first quarter of 2022,” said Başar Arıoğlu, chairman of Yapı Merkezi Construction and Industry, the flagship of the Yapi Merkezi Group and Yapı Merkezi Holding.

This portion of the SGR line links Makutupora and Tabora with seven stations at Manyoni, Itigi, Tura, Malongwe, Goweko, Igalula and Tabora. The SGR trains will travel as high as160km/hr.

“Decorative elements obtained from Tanzania’s rich and colorful culture will be reflected in the design of station exteriors and interiors. Such cultural elements will also be used in visible sections of the line, such as viaducts and bridges,” says Arıoğlu.

The line, which will be constructed over a 46-month period, will increase Tanzania’s total investment in the SGR network to $6.3 billion.

Basar says the SGR line will handle higher axle loads and faster speeds and significantly increase the transportation capacity along the alignment, resulting in reduced costs for cargo and faster and comfortable rides for passengers.

“Most importantly, reduced carbon emissions will protect the world-renowned natural treasures of Tanzania and as a continuation of the previous two lots of the SGR, cargo trains will help decongest of the port of Dar es Salaam by ensuring goods that arrive at the port are moved towards destinations inland without delays and with ease,” he added.

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan has stated that her government is unable to finance the huge railway project using domestically generated revenues, and is pushing for concessional loans to finance a total of 2561 km of the SGR network concurrently with the improvement of the existing meter gauge line, which is narrower. Both lines are running parallel to each other.

Arıoğlu says the third phase passes through a terrain that is “mainly characterized by smooth topography, excluding the portion from Makutupora to Manyoni with two steep climbing sections with a total length of 30 kilometers.”

“One of the biggest challenges is the unknown regarding the actual topography and geotechnical conditions of the route, which were not fully available to the contractor at the tendering stage,” he adds.

Planning of the drainage and movement of water around the new line is a major engineering challenge and an important factor for the safe operation and durability of the SGR system, Basar notes. “The progress of the works could be affected by such activities as relocations and expropriations that must be carried out according to the principles set out in Environmental and Social Action Plans." - Shem Oirere, Engineering News-Record

Photo Travel Radar

On Tuesday 28^th December 2021, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) confirmed that the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) had banned direct flights from Uganda following the rapid spread of COVID-19 variant Omicron in the country.

In a statement issued by UCAA on their Twitter account, the organisation said that; “UAE has temporarily suspended flights from Uganda to Dubai until further notice. Incoming Emirates flights from Dubai are still operational. Passengers planning to travel to Dubai are advised to contact their respective airlines for guidance on any changes in the restrictions.”

UAE also suspended flights from Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Nigeria to tighten the ban on Uganda. Passengers who were transited through these four countries in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter Dubai.

This left many travelers stranded at Entebbe International Airport especially nationals who were travelling to UAE for work under various recruitment agencies.

One of the recruitment agencies, KHM international consultants in their statement expressed how the ban affected their clients whose flights were scheduled for this week. This indicates that the ban is affecting various sectors and businesses in the region, that’s the aviation industry, tourism sector(tourists scared off by the pandemic in the region) and the labour importation sectors which are big influencers on the economy of Uganda and the East African region.

Passengers Exempted from the Ban

Those exempted from the ban include employees of the Official Mission between UAE and the aforesaid nations, UAE nationals, 1^st degree relatives and their domestic workers, members of the Diplomatic missions between UAE and the aforesaid nations, and lastly the holders of a UAE Golden Visa.

The exempted passengers must also follow certain rules, that is;- Present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate with a QR code for a test conducted at an approved facility within 48 hours of departure, must present a negative COVID-19 Rapid or Real Time PCR test certificate with a QR code for a test conducted at the departure airport within 6 hours of departure, undergo COVID-19 PCR test on arrival and must remain in self quarantine until they receive the test results.

Those planning to travel please check the requirements of the country your are departing from as you may need to take a particular type of COVID-19 test specified by your destination. - Katongole Andrew, Travel Radar

Photo via Anadolu Agency

A Turkish construction firm on Tuesday secured a lucrative deal to build a 368-kilometer (229-mile) section of standard gauge railway line linking the largest port city in Tanzania with the hinterland, in a move highlighting confidence in its work.

The deal, which is expected to cost $1.9 billion is part of three out of four deals the company has so far clinched from the Tanzanian government as part of its broader push to finish a 1,219-kilometer (757-mile) railway line which is expected to unlock trade potential with the landlocked countries of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.

Officiating the contract signing ceremony between Tanzania Railways Corporation head Masanja Kadogosa and Turkish construction firm Yapi Merkezi Deputy Chair Erden Arioglu on Tuesday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the 368-km stretch from Makutupora in the capital city Dodoma to Tabora would be built with borrowed money.

"We will find friendly loan facilities and the best ways to get loans. We won't get this money from levies or from domestic taxes," she said.

The project is part of the central corridor which will connect Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania and provide access to Indian ocean for all related.

Kadogosa said the stretch will link Makutopora with the historical town of Tabora, in the country's central region and unlock potential for trade.

According to Yapi Merkezi officials, the railway line will establish a safe and reliable transportation between Dar es Salaam and other parts of the country.

After its completion, the railway is expected to bolster the overall economy of Tanzania especially in the field of trade and tourism, officials said.

According to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, the use of rails instead of road transport will serve to reduced costs and save roads from destruction by heavy vehicles and conserve the environment. - Kizito Makoye, Anadolu Agency