The Kenya Railways has unveiled dates for trains to Western Kenya. Managing Director Philip Mainga said that the commuter services to Busia through Kisumu will commence in September 2021 as they gear towards finishing the construction of a 24.35 km new meter-gauge railway line linking Naivasha with Longonot.
The aim of the project is to ease the movement of passengers between towns. According to the Director, Nakuru will act as a stopover for trains from Malaba and Kisumu. The train from Kisumu will terminate its journey in Nakuru where the passengers will be transferred to the one from Malaba for the rest of the journey to Naivasha.
At Naivasha, passengers will board another locomotive to Nairobi where they can also link with the SGR trains to Mombasa. The corporation said the fares would be set at low prices but specifics were not immediately provided.
Target peasant farmers
“Passenger operations from Mai Mahiu to Malaba via Longonot through a revamped meter gauge train for visitors to Western parts of Kenya will start in September 2021. We also plan to target peasant farmers along the route and this means our fares must be affordable,” said Mainga.
Kenya Railways will also construct two new railway stations along the route. Cargo trains will work concurrently with the passenger trains to transport goods such as foods from Western Kenya to Nairobi. However, cargo trains to Mai Mahiu will start operating in June 2021.
Moreover, the agency rehabilitated the 4.2 km siding which leads into Nzoia Sugar Company. The line is part of the Kenya-Uganda Railway which passes through Webuye Town. Commuters from Malaba, Busia will also travel to Uganda by train once the neighbouring country completes the construction of the Malaba-Kampala line. Kenya offered Uganda an inland depot at Naivasha to fast-track the movement of cargo to the neighboring country.
“We are revitalizing the Metre Gauge Railway line to enhance its accessibility and functionality, a process which will upscale the lines’ contribution to national growth,” Chairman Omudho Awitta Awitta stated.
