East Africa has taken a historic step toward deeper regional integration with the groundbreaking of its first cross-border standard gauge railway (SGR).
The $2.15 billion project, covering 240 kilometres, will run from Uvinza in western Tanzania to Musongati in eastern Burundi.
Tanzanian Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, laid the foundation stone over the weekend, where he emphasised the railway’s potential to transform trade and travel across the region.
He noted that the new line would cut travel time from Musongati to Dar es Salaam to a 20-hour jlourney, compared to the current 96 hours by road. Cargo delivery from Dar es Salaam to Bujumbura would drop to just 20 hours, the reports said.
Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye hailed the project as a long-awaited dream, particularly for unlocking the country’s mineral wealth and boosting market access. “Many asked how we would transport the minerals.
This railway is the answer,” he said, highlighting its promise to reduce transport costs and connect Burundi to international trade routes through Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania’s Transport Minister, Prof. Makame Mbarawa, underscored the project’s economic significance. Shipping costs for a 20-foot container will fall from $3,800 to about $2,000, while a single train will carry up to 3,000 tonnes of cargo compared to just 30 tonnes by truck.
China Railway Group Limited (CREC), a major global contractor with extensive experience in African infrastructure projects is leading the construction in the East African borders.
Built to the 1,435 mm international standard gauge and fully electrified, the line is expected to be completed by 2030.Analysts say the railway could reshape East Africa’s logistics landscape, easing reliance on costly road transport. For Burundi, it marks a pathway to industrial growth and mineral exports, while for Tanzania it cements its role as a key transit hub to the Indian Ocean.