Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has put in place adequate measures to ensure vibrant and seamless operations on both cargo and passenger trains’ movement over the festive season, management has said.
The three sets of Madaraka Express passenger trains will be fully operational between the capital-Nairobi and Mombasa throughout the festive season.
Additional coaches are being added to cope with the increased booking demands currently being experienced.
Similarly, the Madaraka Express Freight Service is also keen on supplying adequate wagons for both container and conventional cargo evacuations for imports and return exports.
Daily supply of above 500 wagons is currently being maintained with all mainline locomotives being deployed to cater for cargo haulage needs.
In a statement yesterday, management said KRC is working closely with other key government agencies that include Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and other multi-agencies to facilitate cargo movements and clearance.
This is especially on current imports targeting the festive season.
"The corporation will be on standby with additional coaches and wagons but advises passengers to book early to avoid disappointment," the corporation said in a statement yesterday.
Between January and November 2022, Afristar, the SGR operator, deployed 2,695 trains that ferried 4.9 million tonnes of cargo from the Port of Mombasa to the hinterland(up direction).
About 631,878 tonnes of cargo was hauled from the hinterland to the port (down direction).
This is an increase compared to 2,417 trains that ferried 4.3 million tonnes up direction, and 579,959 tons of cargo down direction over a similar period last year.
In the last three months alone (September to November), 714 trains ferried 1,276,186 tons of cargo up direction and 169,003 tonnes of cargo down direction.
In November, the Madaraka Express moved a total of 193,661 passengers (187,916 on Phase 1 and 5,745 on Phase IIA).
From December 1 to December 10, it had moved 64,274 passengers on Phase I of the SGR and nine, 431 on Phase II A, making a total of 73,705 passengers.
The SGR remains a key part of the country's transportation and storage sector which has significantly improved this year, building on a strong performance recorded last year after the easing of travel restrictions.
The total value of output from the sector rose by 16.7 per cent to Sh Sh2.2 trillion, the Economic Survey 2022 indicates.
Revenue from haulage on the SGR rose by 24.0 per cent to Sh13 billion in 2021.
Earnings from the Madaraka Express more than doubled to Sh2.2 billion in 2021.
Similarly, revenue earned from passenger services on the Metre Gauge Rail way (MGR) more than doubled to Sh234 million.
Revenue from cargo transported on the MGR rose marginally to Sh1.1 billion.
