Between 50% and 80% of South Africa’s rail lines are electrified and different voltages are used for different types of trains.
Similarly, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, and Tunisia, have functional electric trains.
There is much talk about Tanzania’s electric powered train.
Launched in August 2024, the train connects two cities, the capital city of Dodoma and the port city of Dar es Salaam.
The 440-kilometer railway was built by the Turkish company Yapi Merkezi and is part of a larger Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network.
The SGR network is expected to stretch over 2,000 kilometers by 2026, and carry up to 590 passengers, at a speed o 160 kilometers per hour.
It cost between USD 3.1 – 13 billion.
When fully operational, it will enhance regional trade among Tanzania and its neighbours, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Powered by a sophisticated catenary system (25 kV 50 Hz AC), the electric train has advanced infrastructure technology such as Wi-Fi connectivity.
The Dar es Salaam-Dodoma section of the electric train project, is a vital link in the broader Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) initiative.
Credit: Deng Ramadan, Africa Energy Portal, Yapi Merkezi.