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Kenya Railways to expand Nairobi network with three new lines

A file photo of the Nairobi Central Station-Nairobi Terminus Link Train. (Photo: Kenya Railways)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Monday, May 27, 2024

The Kenya Railways 2023–2027 Strategic Plan, which was launched last Friday, details the construction of three new lines covering 45.9 kilometres.

Railway transport within Nairobi is set to receive a major boost as the Kenya Railways Corporation has announced a plan to significantly expand the network.

The Kenya Railways 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, which was launched last Friday, details the construction of three new lines covering 45.9 kilometres.

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The first line, Embakasi Village-Ruai, will cover 12 kilometres and will enhance connectivity in the eastern part of the capital.

The second part will link the Nairobi standard gauge railway (SGR) terminus to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), covering an estimated distance of 5 kilometres.

This new line is expected to facilitate smoother and more efficient travel for both domestic and international passengers.

The third and longest line will run for 28.9 kilometres, covering the Riruta/Lenana-Ngong/Rongai areas.

In the plan, Kenya Railways noted that these lines are part of strategies to boost the sector and increase both cargo and passenger numbers.

The cooperation has plans to increase its passenger numbers from the current 5.7 million to 8.8 million by 2027.

"We aim to increase metre gauge railways locomotive availability from 70 per cent to 92 per cent while maintaining SGR locomotive availability at 95 per cent during the plan period," the document stated. "This will be achieved through the acquisition, overhauling, and rehabilitation of MGR locomotives."

In December 2020, it was announced that the Syokimau railway terminus would be linked to the JKIA to ease traffic delays and promote railway services.

Former Transport minister James Macharia said at the time that the government was in project financing talks with France.

The project was to involve the construction of a new line from the Syokimau terminus over Mombasa Road into the airport. The cost was not revealed.

Plans to link the Syokimau terminus and JKIA were first mooted in 2017 before Kenya Railways conducted feasibility studies.

The new line will provide services for people leaving the Syokimau terminus for the city centre and vice versa.