2.4 Railway Assessment

Travel Time Matrix Railway Companies and Consortia Capacity Table Key Route Information Key Stations

Page 1 Page 2 Rail operations in Kenya are managed by the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC). However, the KRC has a concession with two operators: the Rift Valley Railways/RVR and, in some parts, the Magadi Rail for actual operations.

The existing track is a narrow 1 metre gauge which was laid out in 1908 with little improvements done to it in the more than 100 years it has been in existence. The line has several sections in poor condition with corroded, worn out and rotting sleepers, sharp bends, and steep gradients, etc. that significantly restrict speed, capacity and are prone to accidents. As a consequence of these limitations, the line operates below capacity.

The rolling stock (locomotives + wagons) are also in a general state of disrepair with little direct investments to improve them. This, together with high fuel prices, has made rail transport expensive and not able to offer viable competition to the alternative road transport. Total quantities of cargo and passengers being transported by rail has been on a steady decline with rail sidings and goods sheds being converted to other purposes.

In 2014, the Government of Kenya received a grant from the People’s Republic of China for US $429 million for the construction of a standard gauge railway line together with rolling stock. The line will run from to Malaba from where it is anticipated that will extend the link to and Rwanda to Kigali. This development when completed is expected to revolutionize the transport industry with a significant shift from road to rail transport due to the anticipated speed, safety and capacity improvements.

Travel Time Matrix

Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (Hours)

Nairobi Sultan Hamud Makindu VOI Maungu Mariakani Mombasa

4 8 11 16 18 22 24

4 8 12 15 20 22 26 28 Limuru

8 12 16 19 24 26 30 32 Naivasha

12 16 20 23 28 30 34 36 *

36 40 44 47 52 54 58 60 Timboroa

40 44 48 51 56 58 62 64 *

60 64 68 71 76 78 82 84 Bungoma

68 72 76 79 84 86 90 92 *Malaba

*Stations where offloading, loading, consolidating, interchange and shunting activities occur hence delaying subsequent movement on the line to after 24hrs (Nakuru), 48hrs (Eldoret) and 72hrs (Malaba).

Railway Companies and Consortia

For information on contact details, please see the following link: 4.9 Kenya Railway Companies Contact List

There are only two rail operators/consortia:

Magadi Rail Rift Valley Railways (RVR)

Magadi rail is owned by Magadi Soda Company that mines and exports Soda Ash from Lake Magadi through the Mombasa port. This company operates its own special type of bulk wagons and locomotives but may from time to time lease and use closed body wagons for transport of bagged soda ash. The services offered by Magadi Rail are exclusive to Magadi Soda Company only. It utilises the Mombasa – Nairobi railway line branching off at Konza (before Nairobi) towards Lake Magadi & town.

The Rift Valley Railways (RVR) is the main consortia operating the main Mombasa – Nairobi - Malaba – Kampala railway line and handling the commercial freight thereof. As noted elsewhere, not much investment has been put to developing capacity of the rail system by the RVR. Emphasis has been on limiting accidents, maintaining a serviceable and safe line, maintaining available rolling stock and locomotives thus maintaining a relatively reliable service whose capacity is relatively low compared to potential. Pricing is determined by available cargo volumes, fuel prices, road rates, etc. and are negotiated between client and RVR. For more information, please visit the Rift Valley Railways Website.

Capacity Table

Rail Operator Capacity

Magadi Rail Rift Valley Railways / RVR

Operates on (lines) Msa – Kza - Mgd Msa – Nrb – Mlb - Kla

Page 3 Max train length and/or pulling capacity 16 wagons 16 – 20 wagons

Locomotives (electric/diesel/steam) Diesel Diesel

Freight Wagons (covered) / size 40 feet 40 feet

Freight Wagons (flatbed) / size - 40 feet

Freight Wagons (high-sided)/size - 40 feet

Freight Wagons (drop-side)/size 40 feet 40 feet

Key Route Information

Standard Route Information

Route A: From Msa To Route B: From Nrb To Route C: From Nrb To Route D: From Mlb To Kla Nrb Mlb Ksm

Track gauge 1,000 mm 1,000 mm 1,000 mm 1,000 mm

Ruling gradient 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1%

Total track distance (single and 545 km / Single 577 km / Single 406 km / Single Single /or double)

Type of rail (weight and if 95 lbs, welded inter various 85 lbs, welded inter various 85 lbs, welded inter various 80 lbs, welded inter various welded or not)

Type of sleeper and fastenings Steel on mainline, wood/steel Steel on mainline, wood/steel Steel on mainline, wood/steel Steel on mainline, wood/steel at stations at stations at stations at stations

Total track travel time 1 day 3 days 1.5 days 1.5 days

Maintenance (Good, marginal, Good Good Good Good bad)

Companies-consortiums RVR RVR RVR RVR operating on line

Traffic frequency (monthly Daily Daily dormant Daily /weekly/daily)

Security (Good, marginal, bad) Good Good Good Good

Main stations (Add details below) Mombasa Nairobi Nairobi Malba Voi Nakuru Nakuru Mtito Andei Eldoret Jinja Sultan Hamud Malaba Butere Kampala Nairobi

Key Stations

Key Station Information

Mombasa Nairobi Kampala

Location 04° 02’ 43.00 S 01° 17’ 30.00 S 00° 17’ 34.00 N 39° 35’ 52.00 E 36° 49’ 42.00 E 32° 33’ 17.00 E

Contact Information Mombasa Railway Station, Railway Road Railway Headquarters, Moi Avenue Kampala Railway Station, Station Road P.O Box 90334 – 80100 P.O Box 62502 – 00200 P.O Box 7891 Tel: +254 41 312220 Tel: +254 20 2044476 – 80 Tel: +256 312314700 Fax:+254 41 493529 Fax: +254 20 202214037 Fax:+256 312265203

Connections with other Road, sea, air Road, air Road, air transport means (road/waterways/air)

Page 4 Storage Capacity Privatised Privatised Privatised (square meters and cubic meters)

Handling Equipment From users 1 crane 2 dilapidated cranes

Handling Capacity: Limitless due to the diversity of sidings, 10 TEUs / hr 50 TEUs / day equipment & labour available. MT / Hour TEU / Hour

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