Nairobi based envoys tour SGR, ride to Mombasa

Brian Boro(L) assistant superintendent dispatch center explains to diplomats how the SGR dispatch room works during a tour of the diplomats at the Standard Gauge Railway(SGR) in Nairobi. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Some 13 Nairobi-based diplomats on Friday toured the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to understand its operations.

They made stops at key SGR facilities and also had a train ride to the port city of Mombasa.

The tour was part of the railroad's sixth anniversary.

Zhou Pingjian, Ambassador of China to Kenya said the event marked the strides that partnership between the two nations has achieved.

He said the tour was significant, coming a day after the Chinese Day, marked on Thursday.

The purpose of inviting the foreign missions was to allow them an opportunity to familiarise themselves with SGR operations to utilise railways services.

Afristar, the SGR managing company, said the tour was to offer a special opportunity for the diplomats to experience the steps the country has taken in elevating the transport sector.

The delegation comprised of the Special Assistant to the Executive Director UN- Habitat Runze Wang; Zhou Pingjian, Ambassador of China to Kenya; Dmitry Maksimychev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Kenya; Jafar Barmaki, Islamic Republic of Iran, Vijay Kumar, second secretary India and Mninwa Mahlangu, High Commissioner of South Africa to Kenya. Engineer Tobias Otieno represented Kenya Railways Corporation.

Otieno said SGR has had a recognisable economic impact in the country and East Africa region.

"Our Chinese counterparts are still assisting Kenya Railways in operating few functions in SGR line, that is serving Northern Corridor Route in freight and passenger transport," he said.

Otieno spoke on Friday, as he took various ambassadors in Kenya, envoys and diplomats through a tour of the transport facility at its Nairobi Terminus.

SGR was commissioned on May 31, 2017 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta as the first phase of the project, with the second phase-Nairobi to Naivasha completed on October 16, 2019.

Otieno said the 592 km track, running from Nairobi to Mombasa has ferried some 11.155 million passengers, with an average seat occupancy rate of 95.8 percent.

"The highest number of passengers transported in a single day has exceeded 10,000, while the punctuality rate has been as high as 99.9 percent," Otieno said.

He explained that for the five years SGR has been in operation, some 2.405 million standard containers and another 28.609 million tons of goods have been transported using the system.

The tour started with the communal viewing of a documentary showcasing the project, Kenya's biggest ever infrastructure venture and a flagship execution of Vision 2030, the country's main development blueprint.

This was followed by a visit to the Dispatch Centre, the nerve center of the entire SGR operation, a stop at the monument celebrating Sino-Kenyan friendship Nairobi, before the party hopped on to the afternoon passenger train to Mombasa.

The first component of East African Railway Network, a regional initiative spearheaded by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, the SGR is a critical part of the Northern Corridor infrastructure that serves the port of Mombasa.

It was selected as the Outstanding Railway Project in 2018 by Engineering News Record (ENR)

The 592 km - track runs from Mombasa to Nairobi, before terminating in the Rift Valley town of Naivasha at Suswa.

The construction of the first phase, comprising 472 kilometers and running from Mombasa to Nairobi begun on December 12, 2014 and was completed two and half years later, ahead of schedule, before its launch on May 31, 2017.

The construction of Phase 2A, running from Nairobi to Naivasha, with a total of 120 kilometers, began in October 2016 and was completed on October 16, 2019.

Despite its relative youth, the SGR has already chalked up some solid performance credentials. As of September 30, 2023, it had achieved railroad safely for 2,314 days.

Since inception, it has transported 2.405 million standard containers and 28.609 million tons of goods.

And a total of 11.155 million passengers, with an average seat occupancy rate of 95.8 percent. The highest number of passengers transported in a single day has exceeded 10,000, while the punctuality rate has been as high as 99.9 percent.