Queries over rail viability as city train runs at a loss
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga aboard a city commuter train after launching the Makadara Railway Station in Nairobi yesterday. Mr Odinga called for urgent action to end city traffic chaos. PHOEBE OKALL
What you need to know:
Syokimau, which was the first such project to be inaugurated last year is making losses, forcing the management to reduce fare to the city centre
Currently, the commuter train from Syokimau in the outskirts of Nairobi to the city centre is charging Sh100 for a return ticket down from Sh120 when it was first commissioned
The acting managing director for the corporation, Alfred Matheka, says their core aim was to provide service to the public
Rift Valley Railways offers the service on behalf of KRC at a cost of Sh51,000 per day
The success of commuter railway service in the city is in doubt even as the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) launched a new station yesterday at Makadara.
This follows reports that Syokimau, which was the first such project to be inaugurated last year is making losses, forcing the management to reduce fare to the city centre.
Currently, the commuter train from Syokimau in the outskirts of Nairobi to the city centre is charging Sh100 for a return ticket down from Sh120 when it was first commissioned.
The acting managing director for the corporation, Alfred Matheka, says their core aim was to provide service to the public.
“We are not looking at making profit, at the moment we are offering public service to Kenyans,” said Mr Matheka, adding that the fare is only meant to meet the cost of operations.
Rift Valley Railways offers the service on behalf of KRC at a cost of Sh51,000 per day.
Mr Matheka said the cost of running the commuter service would be offset through Treasury allocations and income from real estate.
In January, frequencies for the Syokimau train were reduced from three to two because of poor demand. However, Mr Matheka said Makadara Railway Station is likely to change the outlook.
Commuters will pay Sh40 from the Makadara facility to Nairobi Railway station, a pricing intended to help ease traffic along Jogoo Road.
“We want to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and the perfect way to do it is by launching this commuter train service,” Transport and Infrastructure Secretary Michael Kamau said.
Commissioning, the project, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Nairobi’s growth had been crippled by lack of appropriate infrastructure, overcrowding and pollution. \
“Traffic chaos, congested airport and rising human population is killing business in Nairobi and we must change urgently,” said Mr Odinga.
Kenya Railways chairman Jeremiah Kianga said construction of a commuter rail to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport would start in January.
“We want to ensure that passengers along the airport route travel with ease to their destinations by avoiding the traffic jam that is always common along the roads that head there,” he said.
The 22 kilometre line from the city to the airport will be an express service, with the journey estimated to take 25 minutes to Nairobi.
