Strategic maintenance management activities for railway infrastructure in Tanzania: a case of Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) and reli assets holding company Ltd (RAHCO)

maintenance, safety (RAMS) management and life cycle cost management that is thoroughly integrated into the asset management of the system.TRL/RAHCO faces challenges on the maintenance management of railway infrastructure. This dissertation aimed at analysing the factors affecting the performance of railway infrastructure maintenance management, establishing the Critical Success Factors (CSF) for the success of railway infrastructure maintenance management and finally developing strategies for improving railway infrastructure maintenance Management at TRL/RAHCO. Simple random sampling method was used whereby 50 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 48 were collected and used. Furthermore, observation, and documentary review and personal interviews were also conducted to supplement the questionnaire. Data were analysed and presented using Software Package for Statistical Science (SPSS) and tables. The study identified seven factors which were influential to the performance of railway infrastructure maintenance management at TRL/RAHCO. The factors were financial condition, human resources, maintenance strategy, building conditions, physical environment, design and maintenance specifications, and transport concept. Seven critical success factors were also established. The factors included service quality and reliability, innovation and growth average, financial effectiveness, asset utilization, efficiency, safety, and accessibility. Finally the study developed four operational strategies namely developing a maintenance plan, analysing maintenance and operations requirements, prioritising maintenance needs, and analysing human resource requirements for maintenance and operations. It was further recommended that TRL and RAHCO adopt a railway infrastructure organization model which best suit the Tanzanian environment, and establish an effective railway fund to address the challenges on maintenance management of the railway infrastructure.