2.4 Kenya Railway Assessment
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2.4 Kenya 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 Mombasa to Malaba from where it is anticipated that Uganda will extend the link to Kampala 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 Mtito Andei VOI Maungu Mariakani Mombasa 4 8 11 16 18 22 24 Nairobi 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 *Nakuru 36 40 44 47 52 54 58 60 Timboroa 40 44 48 51 56 58 62 64 *Eldoret 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 Tororo Mtito Andei Eldoret Kisumu 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 Page 5.