RVR imports materials worth Sh1.6b for railway upgrade

By Standard Reporter

Rift Valley Railways (RVR) has received materials for the upgrade of Nairobi-Mombasa rail line and construction of a new commuter line in Nairobi.

The materials worth Sh1.57 billion ($19 million) will be used in the repair of worn out curves on sections of the permanent way between Nairobi and Mombasa totaling to 70kms.

Speaking during the event to receive the materials in Mombasa, RVR Group Chief Executive, Brown Ondego confirmed that RVR had shipped in 6,869 tonnes of rail bars, 10,000 sleepers, and other rail accessories, which have been expensed out of the first tranche of the finance package signed in August last year.

improve network

Ondego said that RVR’s primary focus was to improve the condition of the permanent way so as to improve transit times as line-speeds will increase from the current restrictions of between 25- 30km/h to 70km/h.

“We expect to start laying the permanent way immediately and we progressively increase speeds on the back of the developing efficiency on the tracks,” he said. 

The materials were supplied by the KEC International Ltd, an Indian engineering, procurement, and construction firm. In addition to the relaying of the railway, RVR has also commissioned the construction of nine culverts between Busembatia and Jinja in Uganda at a cost of $4.9 million, expected to be complete by December this year.

“We see RVR as an important partner in the economic growth.  A well performing Railway is an imperative, as it is an important link from the port of Mombasa into the Eastern Africa Market,” Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Cyrus Njiru said. 

growth momentum

In its current state, RVR moves an average of 1.7 million tonnes annually, just seven per cent of the current market share.

 Given the projected 10 per cent annual market growth, RVR plans to grow its market share to between 10-12 per cent to average 4.5 million tonnes of the 26 million tonnes of cargo at the port of Mombasa by 2015.

Other projects expected to start in the second half of the year are rehabilitation of 16 locomotives to provide pulling power to be completed by July next year, and installation of Automatic Train Warranty Systems to be completed in early next year.


 

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