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Tanzanian Minister of Transport Harrison Mwakyembe announced on Wednesday (August 1st) plans to spend 104 billion shillings ($66 million) on repairs to the national railway system, The Guardian reported.

Speaking before parliament, Mwakyembe outlined numerous projects to repair Tanzania Railways, Ltd. The minister said the money will also be used to purchase 13 new train engines, 22 coaches, 274 wagons and 34 wagon brakes, and to repair a further 125 wagons to rehabilitate workshops in Tabora and Dar es Salaam.

The financial allotment will increase the number of passenger trains from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma to three per week and resume services to Mwanza services by the end of the year, he said.

An increase in use of rail service within Dar es Salaam will dramatically reduce congestion, improving transport for over 30,000 passengers a day, Mwakyembe said. Train services will be provided between the Dar es Salaam station and Ubungo Maziwa, as well as between Mwakanga and Kurasini via Dar es Salam.

In addition to equipment improvements, Mwakyembe said there are plans to build a four-acre parking lot at the Ubungo station outside Dar es Salaam.