CS Murkomen orders increase of trains to Kisumu ahead of Christmas

CS Murkomen orders increase of trains to Kisumu ahead of Christmas

The government has ordered Kenya Railways to increase the number of trains ferrying passengers and goods to Kisumu from next week.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen made the announcement on Thursday during a tour of the Naivasha Inland Container Depot.

CS Murkomen said the move would help to reduce road congestion during the festive season.

“I have instructed Kenya Railways to increase the number of trains to Kisumu from 21st December 2022 to 3rd January 2023 to meet the increasing demand occasioned by the festive season and ease pressure on our roads,” the CS said in a statement.

The CS spoke after he commissioned the Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes (RMGS) at the depot while in the company of the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian.

He said the cranes would ease the loading and offloading of containers between trailers and the trains as he lauded the partnership between the two countries.

"...Rail Mounted Gantry cranes will ease the loading and offloading of containers from trailers to SGR and MGR trains, and from SGR and MGR trains to the trailers. Kenya appreciates the good working relationship between the two countries whose signature is the SGR among other infrastructure projects," he noted.

Murkomen underscored that his administration was committed to developing rail transport for both passengers and goods.

He referred to both the Standard Gauge (SGR) and Meter Gauge Railways (MGR) saying the government would revamp the two systems to increase their carrying capacity and distribution across the country.

“The Government is keen to develop the Naivasha Inland Container Depot to handle goods destined to various destinations in the country and the region,” he said.

“We are keen to utilise rail transport which is fast, safe, and cheaper to enhance transportation of goods and people. We will also be working to restore passenger trains along the old MGR routes."

He added: “Further, we will be increasing the number of wagons and coaches, which, together with the old wagons and coaches that are currently being revamped at our Nairobi workshops, will increase capacity for passenger transportation.”

Consequently, he revealed a plan by the government to complete the existent Suswa-Kisumu SGR which passes through  Bomet, Nyamira, parts of Kisii and Malaba. He also mentioned that an intent was underway to upgrade the current MGR in the said regions.

At the same time, Murkomen appealed to investors to develop a new railway corridor from Lamu to Moyale, through Garissa, and to South Sudan through Turkana in a bid to foster trade across the country and the region.

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