In an ambitious strategic plan of 2024-2027, the Kenya Railways has announced the introduction of 480 new wagons to increase its capacity to transport passengers and cargo.
The plan will also see the railway witness the construction of new lines for both meter-gauge railway (MGR) and standard gauge railway (SGR), rehabilitation and upgrade of the existing MGR network and development of associated infrastructure.
Kenya Railways equally plans to enhance business development and marketing by growing its brand equity to increase its Freight market share of port throughput.
Additionally, the railway body will complete construction of SGR Phase 2B and 2C from Naivasha to Kisumu (269Km) and Kisumu – Malaba (107Km) and commence construction of the railway line along the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transit Corridor (LaPSSET).
Also in the plan is the construction of Riruta/Lenana – Ngong/Rongai (28.9Km) line; Embakasi Village line – Ruai (12Km); and Nairobi SGR Terminus – JKIA (5Km) line.
“The objective is to stimulate economic development in the region by increasing efficiency and lowering the cost of transporting cargo between major ports on the Indian Ocean coast and hinterland,” the railways body said in a statement.
By 2027, Kenya Railways aims to conclude the construction of the SGR line from Suswa in Narok County to Malaba; acquire, overhaul and rehabilitate locomotives and rolling stock; efficiently and reliably operate passenger services to all destinations traversed by the railway network.
It also plans to increase the sector’s share of the port throughput, refurbish and redevelop existing corporation-owned real estate and develop an adequate and competent workforce for the railway transport sector.
Development of SGR began in 2014 with the construction of Phase 1 between Mombasa and Nairobi which covers 472 km while phase 2A Nairobi-Naivasha (120km), was constructed in 2017.
Both phases are currently operational for passenger movement and freight haulage while Phase 2B (Naivasha – Kisumu-Malaba) is yet to be fully operationalised.
The SGR line has led to the expansion of the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Nairobi at Embakasi, and construction of the ICD – Naivasha at Mai Mahiu.
According to the railways body, this has contributed to the ‘decongestion of the seaport of Mombasa and facilitated seamless transit of goods destined to Western Kenya and neighbouring countries.’
