The World Bank, through its International Development Association, has approved a US$200 million loan to fund improvements on Tanazania’s two main railways, the narrow-gauge line running 970 km between the country’s coastal capital, Dar es Salaam, and the inland town of Isaka.

The US$200 million financing allocated for the second phase of the Tanzania Intermodal and Rail Development Project (TIRP-2) is earmarked to enhance safety, climate resilience, and operational efficiency along a specific railway segment. This initiative entails bolstering infrastructure and conducting transport studies to address existing bottlenecks. Additionally, the project components focus on enhancing the climate resilience of the Kilosa-Gulwe-Igandu section, providing operational and institutional support, and facilitating emergency response.

Currently, Tanzania boasts two operational railway systems spanning a combined distance of 3,682 km, with the loan targeting the central line stretching over 2,707 km, operating on a meter gauge railway. TIRP-2 follows the footsteps of phase one of the IDA-financed Tanzania Intermodal and Rail Development Project (TIRP-1), which concluded in September 2022. TIRP-1 primarily concentrated on enhancing the Dar es Salaam to Isaka central line, covering a distance of 970 km. Notable achievements of TIRP-1 included the rehabilitation of tracks and bridges, leading to an increase in axle load capacity from 13.9 tons to 18.5 tons for the segment between Dar es Salaam and Tabora (840 km). Moreover, designs were finalized for the rehabilitation of intermodal terminals at the Dar es Salaam port, Ilala, and Isaka.