Kenya Standard Gauge Railway Explained

Kenya Standard Gauge Railway
Type:Heavy rail
Status:Under construction
Open:2017
Operator:Kenya Railways Corporation
Linelength:3800km (2,400miles)
Start:Mombasa, Nairobi, Lamu, Nakuru
End:Kisumu, Malaba, Moyale, Nakodok, Lokichar

The Kenya Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is a partially finished railway system connecting Kenya's cities. Once completed, it will link the country to the neighboring country of Uganda, and through Uganda, to South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. There are also plans to link to Addis Ababa, in neighboring Ethiopia to the north. The first segment, between Mombasa and Nairobi, opened passenger rail service in June 2017, and freight rail service in January 2018. Other segments are under construction or planned. The new standard gauge railway, is intended to replace the old, inefficient metre-gauge railway system.[1] [2] [3]

Location

The railway system consists of several major sections:

Mombasa–Nairobi Section

See main article: Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway. This section, measuring 609km (378miles), is known as the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, and connects the port city of Mombasa and Nairobi, the capital and largest city of Kenya.[1] Passenger rail services between Mombasa and Nairobi started on 1 June 2017, and freight rail services on 1 January 2018.

It was built between October 2016 and January 2018, by China Road and Bridge Corporation, at a cost of US$3.6 billion, 90 per cent of which was borrowed from the Exim Bank of China, with the Kenyan government providing the remaining 10 per cent.[4]

Nairobi–Naivasha Section

See main article: Nairobi–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway. This section was also contracted to the company that constructed the Mombasa–Nairobi Section. The line stretches from Nairobi to Naivasha, a distance of about 120km (80miles), at cost of KSh. 150 billion (US$1.5 billion), borrowed from the China Export-Import Bank. Construction began in 2018 and the line was officially opened for passenger train service in October 2019.[5] [6] International freight for neighbouring countries interchanges at the Naivasha Inland Container Depot.

Naivasha–Kisumu Section This section, measuring 267km (166miles), stretching from Naivasha to Kisumu, on the eastern shores of Lake Victoria, is contracted to China Communications Construction Company, at a budgeted cost of KSh. 380 billion (US$3.8 billion), borrowed from China Exim Bank.[7] Loan papers between Kenya and China were scheduled for signatures in September 2018, but were deferred until a commercial viability study is conducted on the entire Mombasa–Kisumu railway.[8]
Kisumu–Malaba SectionThis section, measuring approximately 135km (84miles), takes the SGR line to the town of Malaba, at the international border with Uganda. CCCC, is the contractor for this section as well. The contract price for this section is about KSh. 169 billion (US$1.69 billion). The price for the Naivasha–Kisumu–Malaba section is KSh. 549 billion (US$5.49 billion) and includes the laying of railway tracks in both sections, dredging and expansion of the port of Kisumu, and the expansion and modernization of the inland container depot at Embakasi, in Nairobi.[7] In May 2024, the Exim Bank of China indicated willingness to fund the extension of the Kenya SGR to the Ugandan border at Malaba.[9]
Lamu–Lokichar-Nakodok SectionThis railway line, totaling 1500km (900miles), is a component of the Lamu Port and Lamu-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) development project. Under the LAPSSET plan, this line would be extended to Juba in South Sudan.[10]
Nairobi–Moyale SectionThis 700km (400miles) section also falls under the LAPSSET program. It extends from Nairobi to Moyale, at the international border with Kenya's northern neighbor. It is planned to be extended to Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.[11] In January 2024, Kenya Railways Corporation estimated the cost for this section at Ksh835.5 billion (US$5.57 billion), with the link from Nairobi to Isiolo costing Ksh358.8 billion (US$2.392 billion) and the remaining stretch to Moyale costing Ksh476.7 billion (US$3.178 billion).[12]
Naivasha–Lokichar SectionThis proposed railway link, measuring an estimated 460km (290miles),[13] would link the two main standard gauge railway systems in Kenya; the Mombasa–Malaba SGR System and the Lamu–Nakodok SGR System.[2]

Overview

This 1435 mm (4 ft in) railway line is intended to ease the transfer of goods and passengers between the port of Mombasa and the cities of Nairobi and Kisumu, in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, Kigali in Rwanda and subsequently to Bujumbura in Burundi, Juba in South Sudan and to Goma and Bunia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] [2] [3]

In March 2019, during a state visit to Kenya, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his host, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, jointly, publicly committed to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kampala via Malaba.[14] [15]

The Kenyan government in 2020 reached a deal with AfriStar to take over operations and maintenance by May 2022. Kenya received its first SGR rolling stock in May 2017: 18 locomotives and 60 double-stack container cars.[16] In early February 2024, Kenya received a second batch of 50 cars, with an additional 250 cars to be delivered within the month. 20 of the expected wagons will have power plugins to enable the movement of refrigerated containers, while another 20 will be passenger coaches.[17]

Beyond Kenya

Originally envisioned to extend to Kisangani, in line with the East Africa Railway Masterplan, the SGR project ran into political and financial hurdles, caused by Uganda's initial wait-and-see approach,[18] and Chinese hesitance to fund the Naivasha-Kisumu, Kisumu-Malaba, and Malaba-Kampala sections due to the Chinese economic crisis. Since 2023, Kenya and Uganda have embarked on a joint initiative to fund the completion of the SGR to Kampala, with Kenya announcing the commencement of works on the Naivasha-Kisumu section in 2024.[19] [20] [21]

In May 2024, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo committed to join the Kenyan-Ugandan initiative and funding drive, with an aim to extend the SGR to Kigali and Kisangani.[22]

Standards

The lines are being built according to Chinese standards.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: China Railway to Link Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan . 12 May 2014 . 17 September 2018 . Jack . Moore . . New York City.
  2. Web site: 8 June 2017 . Will Kenya get value for money from its new railway? . 17 September 2018 . . Nancy . Kacungira . Nairobi.
  3. Web site: Kenya's $13 billion railway project is taking shape . 18 September 2018 . 15 May 2016 . Cable News Network (CNN) . Phoebe . Parke.
  4. Web site: 17 September 2018 . Kenya, China sign standard gauge railway agreement . 11 May 2014 . . Nation Reporter . and Presidential Security Communications Unit (PSCU) . Nairobi.
  5. Web site: Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Rail 70 Percent Done: Government . 9 July 2018 . 17 September 2018 . Lucas . Barasa . . Nairobi.
  6. Web site: Kenya inaugurated Phase 2A of its SGR. 17 October 2019.
  7. Web site: Kenya to sign KSh380 billion loan with China for Naivasha – Kisumu SGR line . 17 September 2018 . 17 August 2018 . . Capital FM Reporter . Nairobi.
  8. Web site: China declines to sign Sh380bn loan for Naivasha-Kisumu railway . 17 September 2018 . 9 September 2018 . ConstructionKenya.com . Albert . Andeso . Nairobi.
  9. Web site: . China back to funding SGR connecting Kenya and Uganda . 20 May 2024 . Luke Amani . 20 May 2024 . Nairobi, Kenya.
  10. Web site: Kenya Vision 2030: Lamu Port and New Transport Corridor Development to Southern Sudan and Ethiopia (LAPSSET) . December 2012 . 18 September 2018 . Kenya's Trade Mission To Greece . Kenya's Ministry of Trade.
  11. Web site: 18 September 2018 . 3 June 2017 . Rail strategy has potential to revolutionise development . . Peter . Kagwanja . Nairobi.
  12. Web site: Kubwa . M. . 2024-01-22 . $16 Billion to be Allocated for Lappset SGR Development Cost . 2024-02-13 . Construction Review . en-us.
  13. Web site: 18 September 2018 . 18 September 2018 . Globefeed.com . Distance between Naivasha, Kenya and Lokichar, Kenya . Globefeed.com.
  14. Web site: Museveni, Uhuru close ranks on extension of SGR to Uganda border . . 27 March 2019 . 1 April 2019 . Allan . Olingo.
  15. Web site: Kitimo . Anthony . 2023-05-20 . Kenya, Uganda source for funds to revive SGR project . 2023-06-09 . Nation . en.
  16. Web site: Marete Gitonga . 2017-07-16 . SGR gets 18 engines, 60 wagons ahead of launch . 2024-02-06 . Nation . en.
  17. Web site: Kenya to acquire 300 SGR wagons by end of February . . 5 February 2024 . Dominic Omondi . 20 May 2024 . Nairobi, Kenya.
  18. Web site: Kenya gets Uganda on board to extend SGR to Malaba, Kampala . . 31 July 2023 . Patrick Beja . 20 May 2024 . Nairobi, Kenya.
  19. Web site: . 5 August 2023 . Uganda, Kenya Seek Funds In Joint Bid To Take SGR To DRC . Anthony Kitimo . 20 May 2024 . Nairobi, Kenya.
  20. Web site: Kenya Signs Commercial Contract To Extend SGR To Uganda . 9 February 2024 . . Dominic Omondi. 20 May 2024 . Nairobi, Kenya.
  21. Web site: Work on Naivasha-Kisumu SGR Gears Up for 2024 Kickoff . Construction Kenya . 8 February 2024 . Albert Andeso . 20 May 2024 . Nairobi, Kenya.
  22. Web site: . EAC states renew pledge to fast-track SGR project . 4 May 2024 . Michael Agaba . 20 May 2024 . Kampala, Uganda.
  23. Web site: Traction Power Consumption Analysis to Investigate Freight Train Operational Speed In the case of Ethio-Djibouti Railway Corridor. May 2015. Shimelis Atile. Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT).
  24. Web site: 浙江众合科技股份有限公司 – 众合科技为非洲首条中国标准电气化铁路保驾护航 (Zhejiang Zhonghe Science & Technology Co., Ltd. - Zhonghe Technology Secures China's First Standard Electric Railway in Africa). 总裁办公室 (CEO's office). 11 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20161126194756/http://www.unitedmne.com/cn/about/news/645-2016-10-08-06-38-40. 26 November 2016. dead. dmy-all.

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