Tanzania Targets Tabora-Kigoma Standard Gauge Railway Completion by 2029

What changed

Tanzania is targeting completion of the Tabora–Kigoma Standard Gauge Railway line in 2029, Transport Minister Prof Makame Mbarawa said during an inspection of the project. Lot 6 is planned to support trains travelling at up to 160 kilometres per hour and improve the movement of people and goods.

Construction is currently focused on bridges, culverts and foundations. Embankments and track laying come next, with the government saying it is arranging funds and timely payments to contractors.

Why it matters

The project’s promise is straightforward: a faster railway could make travel and freight movement more efficient along the route. But the useful measure now is not the headline speed. It is whether the construction sequence keeps moving and payments reach contractors on time.

The 2029 date is therefore a target, not a guaranteed arrival. The eventual effect on travel times and freight costs remains uncertain. For now, the decisive milestones are the completion of the core structures, followed by embankments and track.