Kenya: Rehabilitation of old rail-link to Western Region
Kenya Railways Corporation has begun rehabilitation of the old meter-gauge railway from Longonot to the Western side of the country; Malaba and Nakuru to Kisumu. Upon completion of repairs on the old line, a process that will take 8 months will then link to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) at Naivasha.
This will enable seamless transport of cargo containers from Mombasa to Kisumu and Malaba border into Uganda.
Link between Longonot and Naivasha ICD
The Corporation plans to ensure this interchange is successfully executed and has begun constructing a link line between Naivasha Inland Container Depot and the existing Longonot railway station.
This 24.3 kilometres link will ensure cargo from SGR moves to MGR line at the interchange point, located at the ICD in Naivasha.
Upon completion, the operations will reduce the numbers of tracks on the roads as cargo is transported over Lake Victoria via MV Uhuru to Uganda.
Construction of these now dilapidated sections is expected to be complete within the next eight months of 2021.
According to Gen (Rtd) Pastor Awitta, the Corporation is rehabilitating the old railway network to enhance its accessibility and functionality.
Scope of the rehabilitation work
Kenya Railways Corporation will clear the bushes along the corridor, constructing bridges and culverts, and laying the line where it is extensively damaged as well as ballasting.
Other aspects that the Corporation intends to undertake involve removing encroachers on the railway and security corridor.
By rehabilitating the Metre Gauge Railway line leading to the Western Kenya, Kenya Railways seeks to link the old metre-gauge line to the modern standard gauge.
This will provide a seamless link between Mombasa and Lake Victoria in Kisumu and the link to Uganda border.
In the end, the Corporation will transport cargo exclusively on rail albeit with an interchange from SGR to MGR line at Longonot station.
