SGR train can ferry 1,200 per trip from May 31

Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet steps off the new train at the Nairobi terminus at Syokimau. President Kenyatta will officially launch the standard gauge railway service on May 31, 2017. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A passenger train scheduled to operate on the standard gauge railway has the capacity to ferry 1,200 passengers per trip, the Kenya Railways has said.

Managing Director Atanas Maina on Monday said only one train would operate between Mombasa and Nairobi from May 31.

DAILY TRIP

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to launch the service that is aimed at reducing travel time and congestion on roads between the capital and Mombasa Island.

The train, Mr Maina said, will operate one daily return trip between Mombasa and Nairobi.

The frequency, he added, may be reviewed depending on passenger demand.

Speaking to the Nation by phone, the MD said KR would announce the fares before the inaugural trip.

The train schedule, he said, would also be made public ahead of the inauguration next week.

CARGO

“We expect President Uhuru Kenyatta to officially launch the passenger train services next week so that Kenyans can begin to enjoy modern rail transport,” he said.

The Head of State is also expected to flag off the cargo train on May 30.

Cargo train services, however, will take off in January next year, according to KR.

“For freight, we plan to introduce the train services in January next year since we are still doing trial operations,” Mr Maina said.

For the passenger train, travellers will choose between economy and first class.

A premier business class service is planned to start in December this year.

STOPOVERS

“We expect efficiency, safety and cost-effective services when the passenger train operations are introduced next week,” he said.

Travellers, Mr Maina said, will take a shorter time to travel between Mombasa and Nairobi on rail compared with road.

KR has put travel time at five hours, compared with more than eight hours it takes a bus to cover the over 400 kilometres between Nairobi and Mombasa.

Apart from the main railway stations in Mombasa and Nairobi, there will be seven stopovers on the route.

They are Mariakani, Miaseny, Voi, Mtito Andei, Kibwezi, Emali and Athi River.

Mr Maina said the standard gauge railway infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities had attracted businesses and industries along the line between Mombasa and Nairobi.

“There is a lot of business interest in service provision, accommodation and catering as well as manufacturing along the railway line,” he said.