The Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) has said that it expects next month, to start testing services in the Modern Railway (SGR) between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro.

The Chief Government Spokesman, Gerson Msigwa said the construction work of the SGR, the first phase of 1,219 kilometers between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza and that the Dar es Salaam - Morogoro 300 kilometer section has reached 99.77 percent.

Msigwa told reporters in Dodoma that on the Morogoro - Makutupora 422 kilometer section, work has reached 91.79 percent, on the Makutupora - Tabora 368 kilometer section, work has reached 3.95 percent and on the Tabora - Isaka 165 kilometer section, work has begun.

He said that the Isaka - Mwanza 341 km section is under construction and has reached 22.71 percent.

"This first phase alone is expected to cost Shs 16 trillion. And of those funds, the government has already paid the contractors an amount of Shs 8.143 trillion," he said.

He said the second phase will involve the Tabora - Kigoma section, 506 kilometers which includes 411 kilometers of main roads and 95 kilometers of intersections and that the construction contract has been signed and the contractors are in the project area.

Msigwa said the section Uvinza - Msongati - Gitega 367 kilometers, the procurement process to get contractors is continuing and the section Isaka - Rusumo - Kigali, 365 kilometers the government continues to seek funds for construction.

"This is a big project that will not only benefit our country with great income from the port, transportation and employment but will also help to open up this area of ​​the Great Lakes for business and thus improve the lives of the people," he said.

Regarding the purchase of wagons, he said 14 new ones made in South Korea have arrived in the country and 45 wagons are waiting.

He said 17 electric train heads and 10 EMU train sets are being manufactured in South Korea for a 34-month contract that costs US$295.74 million (approximately Sh680 billion).

Msigwa said 1,430 freight wagons have also been ordered for a contract costing 127.2 million US dollars (equivalent to approximately 292 billion Tanzanian shs.