Journal of Logistics, Management and Engineering Sciences (JLMES)

ISSN 2961-6239 (Online), ISSN 1821-9349 (Print) | DOI: https://doi.org/10.61313/jlmes2023v4i1.0045 Vol.

4, Issue 1, Jun 2023 | Page 42-52

Factors Influencing Railway Transport Performance in Freight

Movement in Tanzania: A Case of Central Railway
* Agatha Thomas 1 and Laurencia Massawe 2
1
Department of Logistics and Transport Studies, National Institute of Transport,
Tanzania.
2,3
Department of Transport Engineering and Technology, National Institute of Transport,
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract
The study aimed at addressing the factors influencing railway transport performance in
freight movement in Tanzania: case of central railway. It aimed to assess three main
objectives, the operational factors affecting the performance of freight movement along
the central railway, determined how infrastructure quality influence railway transport
performance, and examined how regulatory frameworks influence railway freight
operations. It involved a sample size of 75 respondents who were obtained from TRC
staffs and customers using railway, the sample size was obtained using Stratified
sampling. The study used deductive research approach, in presenting and analysing the
data, both descriptive and analytical statistical methods were employed and the data
collection methods during the study comprised of questionnaires, document reviews and
observations. The findings and analysis of the study was critically based on the data
collected from questionnaires. Moreover, the findings impacted the infrastructure quality
on railway transport performance where TRC is challenged by poor tracks condition,
terminal facilities, and technology integration the results were to understand the
implications on service quality, competitiveness, and compliance costs for freight
operators which is important to railway operations. The findings indicated the lack of
experts to run the tracks maintenance including low level of technology and lack of
wagons/coaches and locomotives. The study recommends TRC to improve its
infrastructures and skilled staffs in order to enhance the overall performance and
competitiveness of railway freight transport systems. The regulatory frameworks to be
amended to allow other stakeholders to invest and bring changes in railway transport
operations. It is important for TRC to continue engaging the railway experts whose
experiences will help the corporation to achieve its intended goals specially to open
access modality that the government has an interest to improve railway transport
operations.
Factors Influencing Railway Transport Performance in Freight Movement in Tanzania 25

Keywords: Operational factors, Infrastructure quality, Regulatory frameworks

Introduction development. Its effectiveness directly

Railway transport is crucial for the global impacts economic growth and
economy, enabling the efficient and cost- sustainability in the transportation sector.
effective movement of bulk goods across However, various factors influence railway
long distances. Historically, concerns about freight service performance, which can
rail freight performance have been affect competitiveness and efficiency.
addressed through technological (Limi, 2017) emphasizes the need to
advancements, underscoring the mode's understand these factors to optimize
advantages in large-volume operations. railway systems and address industry
(Heister, The impact of operational factors challenges. The transport sector,
on freight train delays, 2020) highlights particularly in emerging economies, faces
that railways require substantial fixed costs significant inefficiencies, leading to a
and need to handle at least one million net decline in the rail freight industry and an
tons annually to be economically viable. overreliance on road transport (Pisa, 2021).
(Mwakibete, 2015) emphasizes that the This study aims to assess the factors
Tanzanian government's focus on affecting railway transport performance,
improving railway performance is essential providing insights for strategic decision-
for ensuring a seamless logistics system making and policy development, ultimately
that enhances the economy's promoting economic growth,
competitiveness, as inefficiencies impose environmental management, and societal
significant costs on businesses. This study well-being.
reinforces the importance of railway
transport for social and economic
development, viewing it as a vital lifeline The study aims to assess the factors
for any country's growth. (Kanuni, 2012) influencing railway transport performance
affirms that railway transport is uniquely in freight movement, with a general
significant in freight logistics, while objective of understanding these factors
(Smith., 2018) discusses the necessity of comprehensively. The specific objectives
infrastructure investments and effective include examining how operational factors,
operational practices for sustainability. infrastructure quality, and regulatory
Moreover, (Sharma R, 2017) identifies low frameworks impact railway freight
investments in key rail infrastructure as a operations along the central railway.
cause of cargo delays, prompting several Research questions are posed to investigate
governments to implement strategies aimed the effects of these operational factors, the
at shifting freight from road to rail, thereby extent of infrastructure quality on
emphasizing the need for competitive rail performance, and the influence of
transport performance to meet market regulatory frameworks on freight
demands. operations. The significance of the study
lies in its contribution to existing
Railway transport is essential for the
knowledge regarding the central railway
efficient movement of freight, playing a
line's performance, highlighting the
crucial role in global trade and economic
Tanzanian Railway Corporation's
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challenges in competing with road Studies by (Behrends, 2012) and (Garcia J,

transport. The findings are expected to 2018) stress the importance of well-
benefit various stakeholders, including designed rail terminals and highlight the
transporters, the Land Transport negative effects of poor infrastructure on
Regulatory Authority (LATRA), and the freight transport reliability. Additionally,
Tanzania Port Authority (TPA), by (Wang, 2019) and (Ngowi, 2018) illustrate
enhancing awareness of the importance of the crucial role of infrastructure and
railway transport and guiding future regulatory frameworks in enhancing freight
investments, particularly in the Standard transport efficiency. Finally, (Heister, The
Gauge Railway (SGR) project. The scope impact of operational factors on freight
is limited to the Meter Gauge Railway train delays., 2020) and (Chen Y, 2020)
system, a vital component of Tanzania's explore the impact of regulatory
railway network facilitating significant frameworks on operational efficiency,
freight movement across the country. advocating for transparent regulations to
foster sustainable growth in railway freight
The studies reviewed encompass various operations, further emphasized by (Sharma
aspects influencing railway transport R, 2017) and (Komba M, 2020) in the
performance in freight movement. context of Tanzania.
(Browne, 2013) highlight rail freight
initiatives aimed at enhancing urban freight
sustainability and reducing environmental
impacts through case studies demonstrating Methodology
reduced road congestion and emissions. It's The research design adopted was a
(Heister, 2020) discusses how operational cross-sectional design, a non-experimental
factors, such as terminal efficiency and method that facilitates the collection of
train scheduling, critically affect freight data at a single point in time from a
delays, emphasizing the importance of specified population or sample. This design
adequate terminal capacity and service is advantageous in social science research
reliability. (Patel, 2019) analyze Indian as it allows for the efficient gathering of
Railways' performance, identifying data to explore the relationships among
infrastructure and regulatory issues, variables without the need for longitudinal
including outdated signalling systems and observation (Riazi, 2016).
freight tariffs, as significant obstacles.
(Smith., 2018) emphasize the influence of
track conditions and crew productivity on The targeted population consisted of
freight rail performance, while employees from the Tanzania Railway
(Mwakolonge, 2019) identify operational Corporation (TRC) and customers who
efficiency and maintenance practices as utilize the central railway for freight
key determinants of performance on transport. This demographic was chosen
Tanzania's Central Railway. (Chen Y, due to their direct involvement and
2020) underscores the positive impact of experience with railway services, thus
infrastructure quality on operational providing relevant insights into the
efficiency and safety in China, while performance of railway freight operations.
(Woodburn, 2012) links infrastructure The targeted population was defined as
conditions to rail freight competitiveness. comprising approximately 300 individuals,
Journal of Logistics, Management and Engineering Sciences (2023) Vol. 04 Issue 01
Factors Influencing Railway Transport Performance in Freight Movement in Tanzania 27

specifically from two departments within data collected specifically for the study's
TRC and customers engaged in freight objectives. The primary source of data
transport via the railway. collection was structured questionnaires,
which were administered to the
Sampling procedures were meticulously respondents. Questionnaires are an
designed, employing stratified sampling to effective tool for collecting quantitative
ensure that various subgroups within the data, as they provide a standardized format
population were adequately represented. for responses, enabling comparability and
Stratified sampling is essential in analysis (Riazi, 2016). Each questionnaire
enhancing the representativeness of the comprised a series of carefully crafted
sample, thereby increasing the validity of questions aimed at gathering specific
the findings (Creswell, 2022). This method information relevant to the research
involves categorizing the population into objectives.
distinct strata based on specific
characteristics, ensuring that critical
segments of the population are reflected in
the sample. For data analysis, the study employed
quantitative techniques, utilizing IBM
SPSS software to process the data
collected. The analysis involved both
The sample size was determined to be 75 descriptive and inferential statistics,
respondents, calculated using Solvin's enabling the researchers to summarize the
formula, which is a widely recognized data meaningfully and explore
method for estimating sample sizes in relationships among the variables under
research studies. The formula utilized was investigation. The findings were
as follows: systematically presented in tables and
figures, facilitating clear communication of
the results.
N
n= 2 (1)
1+ N e
To ensure the validity of the study, the
responses provided by the participants were
Where; compared and cross-verified to assess

𝑛 = represents the sample size

consistency and accuracy. Validity in this
context refers to the extent to which the
𝑁 = population size
data truly reflects the constructs being
measured. Reliability, on the other hand,
𝑒 indicates the level of precision or concerns the consistency and stability of
sampling error. The calculations revealed the measurements over time. The reliability
that a sample size of 75 would be of the data was assessed using Cronbach's
representative of the targeted population. Alpha, which indicated a high level of
internal consistency at a value of 0.850.
This score exceeds the commonly accepted
threshold of 0.7, suggesting that the items
Data collection methods primarily involved within the scale are well correlated and
the use of primary data, which are original
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likely measure the same underlying Other factors, such as infrastructure quality
construct effectively. and regulatory influences, may also play
significant roles.
Relationship between infrastructure
Findings and Discussion quality and performance of freight
movement
Pearson Correlation: r = 0.325, p < 0.01.
The correlation between infrastructure
quality and performance of freight
movement was moderate and positive. This
indicates that higher quality infrastructure
was significantly associated with improved
performance in freight movement. The
statistical significance at the level (p <
0.01) suggests a strong possibility that
better infrastructure positively influences
how efficiently and effectively freight were
transported.

Relationship between regulatory

framework and performance of freight
movement
Pearson Correlation: r = -0.236, p < 0.05.
The correlation between the Regulatory
Framework and Performance of Freight
Relationship between operational factors Movement was weakly negative. This
and performance of freight movement suggests that an increase in regulatory
Pearson Correlation: r = 0.233, p < 0.05. stringency associated with a decrease in
The correlation between Operational freight movement performance. Although
Factors and Performance of Freight this correlation was statistically significant
Movement was positive but weak. This at the 0.05 level, the negative relationship
indicates that improvements in operational indicates potential inefficiencies
factors were related with small
improvements in freight movement
performance. Although this relationship Conclusion
was statistically significant, the modest
correlation suggests that operational factors The study on factors influencing railway
alone may not be sufficient to drive transport performance in freight movement
substantial improvements in performance. has provided an in-depth analysis of
various elements affecting the efficiency
Journal of Logistics, Management and Engineering Sciences (2023) Vol. 04 Issue 01
Factors Influencing Railway Transport Performance in Freight Movement in Tanzania 29

and effectiveness of freight transport passengers and cargo canvassing,

through railways. It concluded that the harnessing the benefits of social media
performance of freight transported via the networks, and market segmentation. In
central railway falls short of corporate relation to the place element, the SGR
targets, primarily due to impaired authority must ensure good connectivity
infrastructure, inadequate wagons and with access and egress modes and
locomotives, and high wagon turnaround availability of facilities for interchange
times. Customer feedback highlighted long between rail services. In relation to the
booking processes and delays in loading people element of the marketing mix, the
and delivery, underscoring the need for TRC must establish a customer
improvement. The research identified awareness culture, ensure the presence of
critical operational factors such as enough staff, and recruit staff with
scheduling inefficiencies, locomotive competence, skills and qualifications to
availability, crew management, and lead operations at the main stations and
maintenance practices as significant substations. Several process related
contributors to performance challenges, activities are also important including the
suggesting that better planning and availability of door-to-door services.
resource management are essential. Finally, on physical evidence, the TRC
Furthermore, infrastructure quality, needs to ensure attractive design, layout
including track conditions and signaling and signage of passenger stations. These
systems, significantly impacts safety, findings reveal the role of marketing mix
speed, and reliability, necessitating elements in a railway organization
substantial investments in modernization setting and therefore, disapproval studies
and maintenance. The influence of which casted doubt on it.
regulatory frameworks was also addressed,
with the study advocating for balanced References
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Enhanced collaboration and
communication among stakeholders are
also emphasized as vital for addressing
operational challenges.

each element of the marketing mix

including, important initiatives under the
product element of the marketing mix,
there is a call for Tanzania Railway
Corporation (TRC) to use salespeople for
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