Nairobi–Nanyuki railway rehabilitation

[John Ashworth]

Wa Iria lauds Nairobi–Nanyuki railway rehabilitation

Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria has lauded government plans to rehabilitate the Nairobi-Nanyuki railway saying it will revitalise trade in Mt Kenya region.

He said many towns lying along the line fizzled out when railway services stopped with most never recovering...

“Most of the trading nodes died a slow and agonising death following the death of the railway line. Traders suffered, businesses shut down and poverty set in due to unemployment,” Wa Iria told the Star on the phone on Thursday.

He said rehabilitation will help the towns regain their lost glory and boost their economy.

"The railway will re-open a major trading corridor for Mt Kenya region and bring rise to new business opportunities especially in the hospitality sector," he said.

It will also provide affordable transport for local farmers ferrying their commodities to the market while enabling the establishment of Special Economic Zones in areas near railway stations, the governor said.

The railway will also revive the real estate sector besides opening up rural areas for trade...

[John Ashworth]

Rehabilitation of old Thika-Nanyuki railway line starts

Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has started rehabilitation work on the 178km Thika-Nanyuki railway line, which has been in disuse for decades...

[John Ashworth]

RENAISSANCE OF THE THIKA – NANYUKI BRANCH LINE

Kenya Railways is in the process of rehabitating the Thika – Nanyuki branch line, which is part of the Meter Gauge Railway (MGR). The route length is about 177.2km. The Branch line was constructed in three phases namely; Nairobi to Thika, completed in 1913, Thika to NaroMoru, completed in 1927; and Naromoru to Nanyuki, completed in 1931...

[John Ashworth]

KRC eyes July finish for Nairobi-Nanyuki rail line

SUMMARY

- The 240-kilometre line that is set to spur economic growth in Central Kenya has been under construction since last month.
- The Sh3 billion rehabilitation work on the metre-gauge railway is being undertaken by KRC which has already injected Sh1 billion...

[John Ashworth]

Reviving Nanyuki railway makes no economic sense

It is a fact that the real estate occupied by the entire Nairobi/Nanyuki railway infrastructure is massive and idle...

By the 1970/80s, the Nanyuki railway had very little produce to carry as commercial agriculture diminished, and Kenyan entrepreneurs invested heavily in alternative road transportation capacity to ferry goods and passengers.

The short distances between the city and the Mount Kenya towns are now best served by door- to-door road haulage. The economic model that initially justified the Nanyuki railway cannot hold today.

What is not in dispute is the urgent need to rehabilitate the railway between Nairobi and Thika into a modern mass commuter train system, and if possible extend it to Kenol...

[John Ashworth]

And now the contrary view - we're nothing if not balanced here!

Why Nanyuki railway makes economic sense

I offer five solid reasons why the Nanyuki railway makes sense. These are improving logistics for the central region economy; linking the upcoming Lappset development corridor to the existing one; stimulating mining in Laikipia, Isiolo, Meru and Tharaka-Nithi; moving fuel safely at reduced cost to the region and beyond; and improving public transport and commerce. Let us examine each one in turn...

[John Ashworth]

Nanyuki rail line starts operations in June

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s quest to revive the 240-kilometre metre-gauge railway line inched closer to fruition Monday after a set of train wagons were offloaded at the Nanyuki railway terminus.

Kenya Railways yesterday confirmed that it had sent two low-sided wagons for carrying murram and tools, two hopper wagons for carrying ballast and one passenger coach for carrying workers who are refurbishing the railway line. It also dispatched one locomotive...

Kenya Railways said Covid-19 has slowed down operations along the route but hinted that they might kick off by the end of June...

[John Ashworth]

Nanyuki railway line signals safety

SUMMARY

- In the midst of all current gloomy news, some positive happening to brighten up this week.
- Those following global logistics trends note the clamour for reliable, safe and clean transport modes, particularly, trains making a comeback as a solution for cheap travel in Africa.
- Over the weekend, the Kenya Railways Corporation(KRC) is reported to have delivered an engine, wagons and coaches to Nanyuki, heralding the near recommencement of operations on the Nairobi-Nanyuki line...

[John Ashworth]

Revamped railway promises to lift Central Kenya economy

The recent arrival of train wagons at the Nanyuki terminus has given the residents renewed hope that an efficient and affordable mode of transport is almost a reality...

[John Ashworth]

Rehabilitation Of The Nanyuki Railway Line On Course

The rehabilitation and repair of the Nanyuki – Nairobi railway branch line is now in high gear...

[John Ashworth]

Long-awaited rehabilitation of Nairobi-Nanyuki Old Railway Line is concluding (video)

[John Ashworth]

Businesses upbeat about revival of Nairobi–Nanyuki railway

Farmers, traders and government agencies in the Mt Kenya region have welcomed the revival of the Nairobi-Nanyuki railway line, saying it will boost the local economy.

The stakeholders said the railway will deliver food to Nairobi more reliably and cheaply and cut off transporters who are the cause of high food prices.

They also hope that the line will offer a more secure cargo transport system compared to road, which is prone to accidents and theft on transit...

[John Ashworth]

I've just come across a discussion thread entitled Meter-Gauge Refurb. | Nairobi - Nanyuki | 235 Km | $250million | Planning

It's not on a railway website, and contains a lot of non-specialist comment, but still has some points of interest.

[John Ashworth]

Vivo, Kenya Railways in oil transport deal

Petrol products dealer, Vivo Energy has signed a partnership pact with Kenya Railway that will see it use the Nairobi-Nanyuki railway line to transport its products...

Sh1.8bn rehabilitated Nairobi-Nanyuki Railway line to pave way for cheaper fuel

The newly refurbished Nairobi-Nanyuki Railway line will soon pave way for cheaper and safer fuel for Kenyans in the Mount Kenya and Northern regions, Petroleum Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau said...

[John Ashworth]

Nairobi-Nanyuki railway to offer cheaper, safer fuel transport

The newly refurbished Sh1.8 billion Nairobi-Nanyuki railway line is expected to pave the way for cheaper and safer transportation of fuel to the Central Region Economic Bloc.

It will also improve the economy of the region by providing efficient and faster transportation of agricultural produce to the market...