SGR passenger coaches arrive at Mombasa port

Journalists view an SGR passenger locomotive at the Mombasa West Station yesterday. INSET: Kenya Railways officials inspect the interior of the coach. [PHOTOS: GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD]

The first batch of the Standard Gauge Ralway (SGR) passenger trains arrived at Mombasa port from China aboard a cargo carrier, Mv Chipol Taihu, on Saturday.

Two passenger engines and 32 coaches are part of the 56 locomotives being shipped into the country prior to the completion of the SGR in June 2017.

The 32 coaches incorporate 23 hard seat units, five soft seat units, two luggage car units, one generator car unit and one track inspection car.

The locomotives and rolling stock have been manufactured by CRRC Qishuyan Corporation Limited of China.

Four freight locomotives were also offloaded bringing the number of SGR locomotives already in the country to eight freight locomotives, two passenger locomotives and two shunting locomotives.

LATEST CARGO

On hand to receive the latest cargo consignment were senior Kenya Railways officials led by Managing Director Atanas Maina.

“The early delivery of these locomotives will give us more time to test the engines as well as the laid rail track as we prepare for commissioning in June. We are well ahead of the plans to deliver SGR project to Kenyans,” Maina said.

The MD added that in line with railway safety regulations, all the new set of trains will be tested to ensure safety compliance.

Maina noted that testing of the SGR locomotives would commence in the next few days, with tests on the line commencing in March.

“Plans for quality assurance acceptance tests are under way,” the MD said.

He said that once the tests are complete, commercial services will begin with passengers boarding the trains to get first travel experience.

“Together with the project supervisor, TSDI-APEC –EDON Consortium ( TAEC), we want to ensure that everything is well in place at the commencement of operations,” said the MD.

The consortium has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the projects requirements and framework applied throughout implementation are met at all stages as per the contract.

The MD said the ultra-modern coaches are set to revolutionise the journey between the Kenyan Coast and Nairobi for travellers with the trip being shortened to four-and-a-half hours.

He said that the passenger coaches have an excellent interior that will allow passengers to enjoy air conditioning, Wi-Fi, social amenities and catering facilities, among other luxuries.

FREQUENT STOPS

“We will have two categories of trains; the Intercity which will stop only at Mtito Andei for crossing the Intercity train in the opposite direction and not at all stops,” he said.

The county trains will however stop at at each of the seven designated passenger stations at Mariakani, Miasenyi, Voi , Mtito Andei, kibwezi, Emali and Athi River. Average speed for these is 85 kph with transit times at 5 hours and 25 minutes for the 472 kilometre stretch.

Maina said that the county passenger train has a lower average speed due to the more frequent stops at designated passenger stations.

The MD explained further that passenger trains will be given priority on the line, with freight trains stopping at the crossing stations to enable passenger trains pass in the same or opposite direction, a common practise the world over.

In total, Kenya Railways is expected to receive 40 passenger coaches, which will have varying capacities with the economy class accommodating 118 passengers in each coach and 72 in the first class coach.