Kenya receives second batch of passenger trains

The second batch of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passenger and freight locomotives docked at the port of Mombasa on Saturday.

The port of Mombasa was a beehive of activities as four locomotives -- two passenger and two freight locomotives were being offloaded.

The East African nation has now received 10 locomotives, after the first batch of six locomotives received two weeks ago. These are part of the 56 locomotives expected in the country before June 1.

"The delivery of these locomotives will give us more time to test the engines as well as the line as we prepare for the commissioning," Kenya Railways Corporation managing director Atanas Maina said.

He said once the testing is completed they will go into the commercial services where customers will start using the trains.

The 6,000 liter diesel-powered locomotives, which can run at a top speed of 158 km per hour, produces up to 3,040 kilo watts nominal power for propelling the train on East Africa terrain.

China Road and Bride Corporation (CRBC) is implementing the SGR project that has already created an estimated 30,000 jobs for Kenyans, fulfilling one of the major demands that jobs be handed to local communities during the construction of what is the biggest investment in east and central Africa.

Kenyan officials say the modern railway line will ease congestion on the roads while reducing pollution arising from heavy vehicular traffic along Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

Besides promoting investments and growth of industrial sector in the region, the SGR project will also facilitate cross border movement of skilled labour, and innovations.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officially launch the SGR operations on May 31, according to the Transport Ministry. Kenyan officials said the SGR project is 18 months ahead of schedule and its quality is that of the world's standard. Endit