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Central line to have standard gauge
2007-06-14 08:52:12
By Bilal Abdul-Aziz, Dodoma
In an effort to revamp the Central Railway Line, the government intends to transform the railway to a new standard gauge, the Parliament was told yesterday.
The Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Development, Dr Maua Daftari, announced this in Dodoma, when responding to Josephine Genzabuke (Special Seats, CCM).
The legislator wanted to know if there were plans to rehabilitate the railway line, which she said was in a deplorable state and a risk to passengers.
`There are long term plans to expand the gauge to 1,435mm standard and weight of 120 pounds for a yard,` said the deputy minister.
However, she said implementation of the plan had been delayed due to lack of funding.
Dr Daftari said currently the improvement plan focused on the existing facility and was being undertaken with the financial assistance from the World Bank.
Responding to a supplementary question on tribulations faced by passengers of the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) who are forced to travel by public buses from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma to catch the train, she said: `The government was keen on ensuring that all passengers travel on roadworthy buses.`
Regarding an outcry on passengers missing the train in Dodoma, Dr Daftari said that the corporation was giving first priority to the passengers on the next train.
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