- Tanzania has launched a direct freight service connecting the Port of Dar es Salaam to its standard gauge railway (SGR) network, eliminating an intermediate container transfer stage.
- The new Port Link infrastructure will initially handle at least 100 containers per day and could scale up to around 1,000 containers daily.
- The project aims to strengthen Dar es Salaam’s competitiveness against regional rivals, particularly Kenya’s Port of Mombasa, as East Africa competes for growing intra-African trade flows.
Tanzania is accelerating the integration of its port and rail infrastructure as African logistics corridors compete to capture a larger share of regional trade flows. The country launched a direct freight service from the Port of Dar es Salaam on Monday, June 1, using its electric standard gauge railway (SGR) network. The new service marks a significant step in Tanzania’s strategy to modernize logistics, lower transport costs and strengthen its position as a trade gateway for East and Central Africa.
Before the launch, cargo destined for the SGR network had to transit through the Pugu Inland Container Depot before operators could load it onto freight trains. This intermediate stage increased handling costs, extended transit times and reduced supply-chain efficiency.
The new configuration removes this bottleneck by allowing direct container transfers between the port and the railway network. As a result, operators can dispatch cargo more quickly to neighboring markets, particularly Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Tanzania enabled the new service through the completion of the Port Link project, an infrastructure development that directly connects the country’s largest maritime gateway to the SGR freight system.
The service will initially operate with 50 wagons, and each wagon will carry two containers. This capacity will allow operators to transport at least 100 containers per day during the initial phase. Authorities expect the system to scale progressively toward a capacity of approximately 1,000 containers per day.
The direct rail connection forms part of broader efforts to improve freight efficiency and reduce logistics costs for importers, exporters and transit cargo operators. The initiative also aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the Port of Dar es Salaam at a time when cargo volumes continue to rise and regional competition intensifies.
Official data show that cargo throughput at Dar es Salaam increased to 27.7 million tonnes in fiscal year 2024/25 from 16.27 million tonnes in fiscal year 2020/21. The government expects the new rail-port integration to support further traffic growth while improving the port’s attractiveness for regional and international trade.
The project comes as African ports and major transport corridors increase investments to capture trade flows generated by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the expansion of intra-African commerce.
Within this environment, Tanzania faces growing competition from Kenya, which has also accelerated investments in logistics infrastructure. Kenya recently launched an extension of its own standard gauge railway network to improve connectivity with landlocked countries across the region.
Consequently, both countries are seeking to position their transport corridors as the preferred routes for regional trade, transit cargo and international shipping.
For Tanzania, the direct integration of the Port of Dar es Salaam with the SGR network represents a strategic move to strengthen logistics efficiency, attract additional freight volumes and reinforce its role as a regional maritime and transportation hub.
This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa
