SGR track laying process to be finalised in December
A section of the Standard Gauge Railway running through Makueni County. The Transport Ministry says only 35 per cent of the cargo handled at the Mombasa Port will be hauled via SGR. FILE PHOTO | SALATON NJAU
What you need to know:
The Transport and Infrastructure Ministry says that 234km of track-line have so far been laid between Emali and Voi.
The laying of the 472km Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line is expected to be complete by December with test runs beginning early next year.
The Transport and Infrastructure Ministry says that 234 kilometres of track-line have so far been laid between Emali and Voi.
The Sh327 billion project is expected to significantly cut down the time and cost of passenger and cargo transport beginning June 2017 when it will be launched.
“The track laying process is expected to be completed by December 2016 with the first batch of locomotives expected to be delivered in December, 2016 to run trial tests before the official launch in June 2017,” the ministry said in a statement.
“So far, over 75 per cent civil works have been completed on phase one of the SGR project with over 234km track-line having been laid between Emali and Voi.”
Transport Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera said that only 35 per cent of the cargo handled at the Mombasa Port will be hauled via SGR. This is a reduction from an earlier projection of 50 per cent.
“The government expects the project to reduce freight costs from $0.20 per tonne/km to $0.08 per tonne/km. It will also increase cargo train speeds up to 80kms/hr and passenger trains at 120km/hr. Essentially, the rail trip from Mombasa to Nairobi will take only four hours,’’ Mr Nyakera said.
