This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
Kenya is taking a significant step towards modernizing its urban commuter trains in Nairobi with the imminent arrival of refurbished Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs).
According to Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, the DMUs, purchased from an island in Spain, are expected to arrive at the Mombasa port on or about August 16, 2020, after being shipped from Barcelona on July 21, 2020.
These refurbished engines are expected to play a crucial role in boosting the Nairobi Commuter Rail (NCR) plan to increase the number of train commuter users from the current 300,000 to three million a month.
The refurbished DMUs, which include five coaches and spare parts, were acquired at a negotiated price of Sh1.15 billion from Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM).
Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga explained that the DMUs would be used on the Nairobi Commuter Rail (NCR) and would give a major boost to the ongoing reforms to turn around the capital, and city transport is one of the key deliverables for the new Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
Mainga noted that the project's objectives are to modernize approximately 150km of track and infrastructure on four major routes radiating from the CBD, introduce modern rolling stock, develop a new 6.5km railway line to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and provide safe, reliable, and affordable services.
