Kidatu

{{Infobox settlement   |official_name = Kidatu, Tanzania |other_name = |native_name =  |nickname = |settlement_type = |motto =  |image_skyline = |imagesize = 300px |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Tanzania  |pushpin_mapsize =300 |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Tanzania  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Tanzania}} |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = Morogoro Region |subdivision_type2 =District |subdivision_name2 = Kilombero District  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title =  |established_date = |established_title2 =  |established_date2 = |established_title3 =  |established_date3 =  |area_magnitude = |unit_pref =Imperial  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = |area_land_km2 =  |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi =  |population_as_of = |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_blank2_title = |population_blank2 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |coordinates = {{coord|07|42|00|S|36|57|00|E|region:TZ|display=inline}}  |timezone =East Africa Time |utc_offset = +3 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = 294 |elevation_ft =  |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = Climate |blank_info = Aw |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''Kidatu''' is a town in central Tanzania, located in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region. The local population is about 3,300. The primary economic activity is the large Illovo sugar cane plantation and factory which produces {{convert|130,000|t}} of sugar per year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sugar Factories of Tanzania: Kilombero: Illovo Sugar|url=http://www.sugartech.co.za/factories/list.php?cid=218|access-date=2012-09-03|archive-date=2014-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111110832/http://www.sugartech.co.za/factories/list.php?cid=218|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography== It lies on plains to the south of mountains to the north. <!-- Adding a weather box template below for possible use in the future. Please remove comments if the wikipedia Weather box is used in the future for civilian and agriculture use as an example (mfano kutumia kwenye matumizi ya kilimo na kwa matumizi ya waraiya).

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== Transport == Kidatu is the terminus of a {{cvt|107|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} {{RailGauge|1000mm}} narrow gauge branch line from Kilosa off the Tanzania Railways Corporation Central line, built between 1958 and 1963.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trctz.com/kidatu.htm |title=Tanzania Railways Corporation |access-date=2008-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107054336/http://www.trctz.com/kidatu.htm |archive-date=2009-01-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the 1970s, the newer {{RailGauge|1067mm}} TAZARA railway was built through.

Hence there is a break of gauge at Kidatu.

It is about {{cvt|300|km}} from Dar es Salaam, either via the north or TAZARA.

=== Transshipment hub ===

Since 1998, a transshipment station has been provided to overcome the break-of-gauge at this location.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/1910/Business/Appointments7.html|title=Uganda Govt Looks Forward to Regional Railway Link-up|newspaper=The East African|date=19–25 October 1998|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011123024536/http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/1910/Business/Appointments7.html|archivedate=23 November 2001|url-status=dead}}</ref> This hub connects the large {{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on}} zone of southern Africa and bypasses congestion at Dar es Salaam.

Under a deal with Tanzania, metre gauge trains that connect with {{RailGauge|3ft6in}} trains at Kidatu are operated by the Trans Africa Railway Corporation.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5327/is_199812/ai_n21430104 Historic rail deal for Tanzania | African Business | Find Articles at BNET.com]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Trans Africa Railway Corporation Tanzania (TARC) |publisher=Imbani Group Companies |url=http://www.imbani.com/imbani/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=113&Itemid=185 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903042953/http://www.imbani.com/imbani/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=113&Itemid=185 |archivedate=2012-09-03 }}</ref>

Approximately {{cvt|160,000|t}} of traffic passes through the hub each year.

== Industry ==

Kidatu has a sugar mill.<ref>[http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/product-compint-0000756825-page.html Goliath Sugar]</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/old/Opinion/Opinion2.html Rail in East Africa] * [http://bostonreview.net/BR29.6/monson.html Freedom railway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512053918/http://bostonreview.net/BR29.6/monson.html |date=2008-05-12 }} * [http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/placemarks/cl-06-21-06-919432546.kmz Dar]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Category:Populated places in Morogoro Region