Tanzania Railways Corporation Says It Will Add Trains and Wagons to Isaka Dry Port as Freight Volumes Grow

Increasing train and wagon capacity to Isaka Dry Port would strengthen the terminal’s role as an inland freight hub for cargo moving between Dar es Salaam and neighbouring markets including Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

For TRC, the development also supports a broader shift towards moving higher freight volumes by rail and improving the interface between the MGR, SGR and inland logistics facilities as cargo demand grows.

Tanzania Railways Corporation Says It Will Add Trains and Wagons to Isaka Dry Port as Freight Volumes Grow — The TRC delegation during its visit to inspect progress at the Isaka Dry Port. Photo Credit: Tanzania Railways Corporation

Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has stated its intention to increase freight transport capacity to the Isaka Dry Port by increasing the number of trains and wagons, a move aimed at enabling larger volumes of cargo to be transported at one time.

Speaking during a visit to inspect progress at the Isaka Dry Port, TRC Board Chairman Mr Jaffer Machano said the investment would enable traders from Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to access freight services at Isaka without having to send trucks to Dar es Salaam.

TRC Director General Engineer Machibya Shiwa said the Isaka Dry Port forms part of TRC's broader strategy to strengthen freight transport infrastructure through the metre gauge (MGR) and standard gauge (SGR) networks, while construction and expansion of other stations and dry ports continues in several locations, including Kwala, Morogoro, Isaka, Mwanza and Kigoma.

Shiwa said TRC has already received a request from the investor in the Isaka Dry Port to increase the number of trains, and will continue adding trains as freight volumes increase.

Isaka Dry Port Manager for GSM, Mr Isack Kenyata, said cooperation between the government, TRC and the private sector has accelerated activity at the facility, which is currently served by three trains from Dar es Salaam. He said TRC has committed to increasing the number of trains further as freight volumes grow.

TRC said it continues to strengthen rail as an important link for trade, economic activity and transport in Tanzania and the wider East African region.