Kepher Otieno

Joy marked the return of the regular passenger train services from Nairobi to Kisumu City after a decade.

The revival of the old railway line comes at a time when the government is committed to restoring abandoned old railway lines that once used to be vibrant.

Since 2011, the old Nairobi/Nakuru/Naivasha rail line has not been open after regular train services stopped indefinitely.

This paralysed the commuter rail services in Western Kenya for 10 years, dimming hopes of traders who used the train to transport bulky goods.

But now there is a sigh of relief for the traders who preferred railway transport for carrying heavy and bulky goods over long distances as the train resumed services.

Local station

Thousands of residents of Kisumu jammed the local railways station to see the train as it made its way to Kisumu city at the weekend.

John Okeyo and Alex Onyango, both traders in the lakeside city  told Business Hub that they were happy with the return of train services.

“This is because transportation by means of railway ensures safety for goods unlike road carriage because a train only stops at a designated station instead of the will of the driver,’’ said Okeyo.

Because railway transportation is cheaper as compared to air and road transport, he added, goods can be carried in bulk quantities as a result of which a lot of time is saved.

Onyango asserted: “Again in any case of road transport for example, the drivers can at any point of time decide to rest or stop for tea, refreshments, lunch or dinner.’’ They vowed to use the train for business.

Kenya Railways MD Philip Mainga said the relaunch ahead of  Christmas and New Year festivities is timely due to mass travels.

“We are targeting many travellers this festive season, so the train will run on December 17 and 24 and January 1 next year and beyond,’’ he said.

The train arrived at 5.55pm, at the newly built Kisumu Railway station, adjacent to the recently refurbished Sh3 billion Kisumu Port. It left Nairobi at 6am and arrived in Nakuru at 11.35am last Friday.

Kisumu Station Manager Mwalimu Disi said the single station stage will be served by a new juncture or interval line.

Metre gauge railway

“We finished the work and that is why the new Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) station has opened its doors to the public,’’ he said.

The new Kisumu MGR Passenger Station is between the Kisumu – Busia (B1) Road and the Kisumu Bypass Road.

The facilities at the new MGR station include the new station Siding/Yard Line, stage Platform, Parking (for private vehicles), Public Service Vehicles Terminus.

Others are the Station, access roads, signage and communication Facilities, Power Supply, water and Sewerage Connection and perimeter wall fencing.

Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o was happy that the resumption of the KR line is bound to spur the rural economic growth.

“The timing is good coming at a time when Kisumu Port, was also on the path to economic resilience after massive rehabilitation,’’ he said

The 216km line will connect to the recently refurbished Sh3 billion Kisumu Port. This will enable the ferrying of cargo and passengers to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo on ships via Lake Victoria with ease.

Kenya Railways has been rehabilitating the old railway line from Nakuru to Kisumu at a cost of Sh3.8 billion.

Kenya Defence Forces was tasked to manage the project, while Kenya Railways has been providing the required resources and materials.

National Youth Service on the other hand has been in charge of clearing bushes along the line working closely with the beneficiary community’s youth.

The exercise started on August 1 last year and engaged the services of thousands of youth within communities where rail line traverses in repairs.