RVR unveils three locomotives in race to boost efficiency

Regional rail operator Rift Valley Railways (RVR) has flagged off three new US-made locomotives, as part of the company’s investments aimed at improving efficiency and speed of railway transport in Kenya and Uganda.

RVR has a 25-year contract to operate railways services along the Mombasa to Kampala line as well as commuter services in Nairobi.

The company has previously come under heavy criticism from the government for the perceived slow pace of investment in rehabilitating the railways lines and buying new locomotives.

“Taking cognisance of the investment made and the work in progress by RVR there are indications that this public private partnership is turning the corner,” said Transport secretary Michael Kamau.

The three General Electric locomotives are part of a consignment of 20 acquired by RVR.

The comments by the transport secretary signals a softening of the government’s earlier tough stance against RVR.

Mr Kamau has been the most vocal government official threatening to cancel RVR’s concession agreement, accusing the company of failing to meet expectations of the Kenyan and Ugandan governments.

READ: RVR gets loan for 20 new locomotives

The Transport secretary , however, noted that commissioning of the locomotives was significant as it marks the first time engines have been brought into Kenya or Uganda since 1987.

“We are encouraged to see noteworthy recent improvements in operational performance, particularly in cargo transit time and the speed of evacuating cargo from the port,” he said, promising the government’s support for the railway concessionaire.

The new fleet of locomotives will cost a total of Sh2.3 billion and will be delivered over the next five months.

Neglect of the railway over the decades made the transport option increasingly unreliable, with major delays and frequent derailments pushing more importers and exporters to truckers.

RVR ferried 1.2 million tonnes of cargo last year compared to 1.3 million tonnes in 2012, signalling that truckers continue to gain market share in the local logistics market.

The railway concessionaire however says its ongoing investments will make it more competitive, especially in transport of bulky and heavy commodities like fuel and cement.

RVR has earmarked a total capital expenditure of $287 million (Sh25.2 billion) to hire skilled manpower, adopt modern technology, and upgrade its fleet and railway track.