Kenya Railways celebrated eight years of the Madaraka Express, a service that has transformed passenger and freight transport in Kenya.
Speaking at the event, Kenya Railways Board Chairman Mr. Abdi Bare recalled how far the railway journey has come. “We started this journey with one express train each day. But the outcry from the public was great. We then introduced the Inter-County train, Afternoon Express, and Nighttime Express. This trend just shows you that our Passenger service is a darling of many,” he said.
Since its launch in 2017, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has grown into a crucial artery for Kenya’s economy. Mr. Bare noted that over 15.3 million passengers have used the service so far, while freight trains have moved more than 39.78 million tonnes of cargo.However, the journey has not been without challenges.
“The one that stands out most is the Covid-19 period. As you are aware, we had to stop operations during the cessation of movement periods. The lack of a last mile solution for freight customers is another challenge face,” he said.
Mr. Bare assured Kenyans of the government’s commitment to expand the railway network. “The Government of H.E Dr. William Ruto is committed to ensuring that the Standard Gauge Railway line is extended to Malaba through Kisumu,” he added.
Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Maingi echoed these sentiments, highlighting the rapid growth of the service. “We started from about 200,000 passengers in our first year. Today, we have grown to over 2.5 million passengers annually, and this year we expect to hit 2.6 million,” he proudly stated.
Freight operations have also seen impressive growth. Mr. Maingi revealed, “Last year alone, we moved about 6.3 million tonnes. This year, we are targeting 7.7 million tonnes. This is a drastic change.”
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Beyond the numbers, Mr. Maingi praised the Kenya Railways staff and partners for their dedication to safety. “Every day, our locomotive drivers take charge of those trains, making sure they arrive safely. We have managed eight years of safe operations thanks to our teams.
As Mr. Bare summed it up, “Our vision remains to make railway transport an excellent service provider within the region.”
