This archive report was first published on 7 May 2020.
On May 7, 2020, Bolloré Transport & Logistics introduced a rail service for export cargo from Mombasa to Uganda, passing through the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD), in a bid to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
The first train, carrying 64 TEUs of cargo destined for Bolloré Transport & Logistics clients, arrived at the Naivasha ICD on the same day.
By utilizing the rail to transport cargo up to Naivasha, the company aims to reduce the exposure of long-distance drivers to the virus and protect the populations living in numerous roadside towns along the A104 highway between Mombasa and Naivasha.
A fleet of Bolloré Transport & Logistics long-haul trucks and trailers from Uganda will be waiting at the Container Depot to offload export consignments onto the train and take up cargo for last-mile delivery to Kampala.
This well-coordinated exchange will ensure cost-efficiency by loading both the train and trailers for the two-way journeys.
According to Jason Reynard, Bolloré Transport & Logistics CEO for East Africa, "The Covid-19 epidemic has put immense pressure on the supply chain as the industry works to safeguard the health and safety of our teams while ensuring the cargo keeps moving. We have been exploring rail as a solution and we are thankful for the support we have received in launching this new service."
