Kenya's trains will not be as fast as China's
Posted: 24 Nov 2010, 20:10
KENYA’S TRAINS WILL NOT BE AS FAST AS CHINA’S
By stationmaster / November 20, 2010 / Kenya
Railways Africa
Nigerian media consultant Kwendo Opanga, commenting on China’s recently launched “bullet train†linking Hongqiao and Hangzhou (202km) in 45 minutes, explains that Kenya’s proposed standard gauge expresses will not be this fast. It is however a “mega†project, he says. The speeds will be lower than those in China – 180km/h for passenger trains and 120km/h for freight – but these figures need to be compared with the present situation – 30km/h for both. Axle loads up to 35 tonnes are planned, more than double the present 16.
The port of Mombasa handles more than 16 million metric tonnes of cargo per year, but at present the railway only manages to move 4% of this amount. By 2030, Opanga points out, Mombasa is expected to handle 30 million metric tonnes of cargo. If the railway is not up to this, Kenya stands to lose business to ports that can clear cargo more quickly.
By stationmaster / November 20, 2010 / Kenya
Railways Africa
Nigerian media consultant Kwendo Opanga, commenting on China’s recently launched “bullet train†linking Hongqiao and Hangzhou (202km) in 45 minutes, explains that Kenya’s proposed standard gauge expresses will not be this fast. It is however a “mega†project, he says. The speeds will be lower than those in China – 180km/h for passenger trains and 120km/h for freight – but these figures need to be compared with the present situation – 30km/h for both. Axle loads up to 35 tonnes are planned, more than double the present 16.
The port of Mombasa handles more than 16 million metric tonnes of cargo per year, but at present the railway only manages to move 4% of this amount. By 2030, Opanga points out, Mombasa is expected to handle 30 million metric tonnes of cargo. If the railway is not up to this, Kenya stands to lose business to ports that can clear cargo more quickly.