This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
Kenya is gearing up to introduce a new commuter train service in Nairobi, with the first batch of diesel-propelled trains expected to arrive in August.
According to Charles Hinga, the principal secretary for Housing and Urban Development, the trains will be used on services from Nairobi Central to Syokimau, Embakasi Village, Thika, Kikuyu, and Kitengela.
The acquisition of additional diesel-powered passenger wagons is part of Kenya Railways Corporation's masterplan to increase capacity on commuter services in the capital from 13,000 to 132,000 passengers a day by 2022.
As of July 17, 2020, five of the 11 trains had already left the island of Mallorca through Barcelona city for the port of Mombasa, with the remaining six expected to follow shortly.
Mr. Hinga stated that the trains bought from the island of Mallorca were discharged from use after the island completed modernization, adopting electric trains in the process.
The revamped network is expected to attract a substantial portion of the 1.5 million city commuters who travel into Nairobi's central business district (CBD) every day, said Kenya Railways.
Friday, July 17, 2020, 2:07
