Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway
| Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System | Heavy rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Under construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini |
Mombasa Nairobi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planned opening | June 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 485 km (301 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed |
120 km/h (75 mph) (passenger) 80 km/h (50 mph) (freight) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is a standard gauge railway that will connect the port of Mombasa to Kenya's capital city Nairobi. Tracklaying was completed in December 2016, and the railway will be commissioned in June 2017. Commercial operation will begin in January 2018.[1]
Under the East African Railway Master Plan, the Mombasa–Nairobi line will link up with other standard gauge railways that are being built in East Africa. Construction is already under way on Phase II of the Kenya SGR, which will extend the railway to the Uganda border by 2021.[1]
The prime contractor on the railway is the China Road and Bridge Corporation. The project is estimated to cost US$3.6 billion, with 90% coming from the Exim Bank of China and 10% coming from the Kenyan government.[2] 25,000 Kenyans were hired to work on the railway.[3]
Upon completion, the railway will be operated for five years by the China Communications Construction Company.[4] The design capacity of the railway is 22 million tonnes per year.[5]
Route
Passenger services run from Mombasa West station to Nairobi South station in Syokimau, where passengers can transfer to the metre gauge trains into Nairobi city centre.[6] Freight services are provided between the Port of Mombasa and an inland container depot at Embakasi in Nairobi.[5]
The SGR follows a straighter alignment than the metre gauge railway, allowing for higher speeds. Because of terrain, large portions of the railway are built on viaducts, embankments, and cuttings. Viaducts are also used for environmental protection. The railway runs through the transportation corridor between Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park. While the highway and metre gauge railway are at ground level, the SGR is elevated on a viaduct, allowing wildlife to pass without risk of injury.
History
In the 2000s, Kenya's colonial-era metre gauge railways deteriorated from a lack of maintenance. By 2016, passenger trains were taking 24 hours to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa, a far cry from the 12 hour timetable of the early 1990s.[7] Freight transported from the Port of Mombasa fell from 4.8 million tonnes in the 1980s to 1.5 million tonnes in 2012.[8] In 2014, Rift Valley Railways, the operator of railways in Kenya and Uganda, reported a loss of $1.5 million.[9]
At the same time, the Chinese government was funding railway construction in other African countries. In 2011, Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Road and Bridge Corporation to build a standard gauge railway from Mombasa to Nairobi. Financing was finalised in May 2014, with the China Exim Bank extending a loan for 90% of the project cost, and the remaining 10% coming from the Kenyan government.[10]
Tracklaying was completed in December 2016, and the railway will go into trial operation in June 2017. Commercial service will begin in January 2018.[1]
Rolling stock
| Type | Manufacturer | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DF8B | Freight locomotive | [11] | |
| DF4D | CNR Dalian | Passenger locomotive | [11][12] |
References
- 1 2 3 Mwita, Weitere (December 3, 2016). "Funds for SGR phase II to be in by January 2016, assures state". The Star, Kenya.
- ↑ "Mombasa - Nairobi standard gauge line funding agreed". Railway Gazette. 14 May 2014.
- ↑ "Chinese company helps build new railway in Kenya". China Daily.
- ↑ Maundu, Pius. "Mombasa-Nairobi section of the SGR to be complete by June next year".
- 1 2 "Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway Project". Railway Technology. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ↑ Chao-Blasto, Sandra; Njoroge, Kiarie (January 13, 2016). "Mombasa SGR passengers to change trains at Syokimau".
- ↑ Knowles, Daniel (3 August 2016). "The lunatic express". 1843 Magazine.
- ↑ Mugwe, David (August 19, 2013). "Rail transport makes a comeback". Daily Nation.
- ↑ Mayoyo, Patrick (22 June 2016). "World Bank Looks Into Case of 'Embezzlement' At Rift Valley Railways". The Observer (Kampala).
- ↑ "Kenya, China sign standard gauge railway agreement". Daily Nation. May 11, 2014.
- 1 2 "SGR Photo Updates". Megaprojects Kenya. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ↑ "China rail giant delivers first batch of locomotives to Kenyaa rail giant delivers first batch of locomotives to Kenya - People's Daily Online". en.people.cn. July 2, 2015.
Based on the Dongfeng 4D diesel locomotive, these batch of locomotives have been improved taking into account of local environment, according to Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Company, the manufacture.