African milestone

Kenya’s new railway ferries 1.3 million people in 1st year

NAIROBI — Kenya on Thursday marked the first anniversary since the launch of the Standard Gauge Railway passenger train service amid smooth operations that have endeared it to regular travelers, entrepreneurs and tourists.

Senior Kenyan officials, Chinese diplomats and executives from the contractor China Communications Construction Company, graced the occasion to mark one year since the opening of the modern commuter train service dubbed the “Madaraka Express”.

According to James Macharia, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for transport and infrastructure, the SGR train has in the past year revolutionized movement of people, goods and services in the country.

“From the onset, the Madaraka Express has striven to lower the cost of transport and make it more affordable, convenient and reliable for Kenyans to travel for business and leisure,” Macharia said in a speech read on his behalf by the managing director of Kenya Railways Corporation, Atanas Maina.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 31, 2017, launched the commuter train service to run through the 480-kilometer SGR connecting the capital Nairobi to the port city of Mombasa.

China Road and Bridge Corporation implemented the mega infrastructure project that is deemed an early result of the Belt and Road Initiative which was proposed by China in 2013. The initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa.

Macharia said that Madaraka Express that has so far ferried 1.3 million passengers, has unleashed huge benefits to critical sectors of the economy like manufacturing and tourism, besides enhancing technology transfer.

Madaraka Express, which is now making two trips in each direction between Nairobi and Mombasa daily, has attained more than 95 percent occupancy while reducing by half the time spent to connect to Kenya’s first and second-biggest cities.