Kenya Railways New Coaches Promises Ultimate Luxury
The government has acquired new locomotive engines known as Power Cat which can carry more than 20 coaches compared to the previous ones which carry 13 coaches.
Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar acknowledged the government has been struggling with the demands since the inception of Madaraka Express passenger coaches during the Jubilee administration under retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He added that the demand is in line with feed back from passengers since 2017 and it is aimed at ferrying more passengers between the two major cities.
“The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) facility is referred to as commuter rail,” he pointed out.
He was speaking during the inspection of the newly acquired 20 passenger fleet held at Port Reitz in Mombasa county.
The Transport Principal Secretary defended the facility as last network service.
During the brief ceremony attended by the corporation’s Managing Director Philip Mainga and Board Chairman Abdi BareDuale, Daghar said the facility is last network service to connect passengers to the last mile.
He disclosed the newly acquired coaches were received and loaded in the course of last week.
“Ten in number are the passenger coaches for the economy class defined by the sitting arrangement facing both the destination it is heading to and from the side it had departed,” he stated.
The PS added that apart from the 20 passenger coaches four are first class coaches with new design features added on them.
Daghar who was also flanked by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Board Chairman Benjamin Tayari and Managing Director captain William Ruto told the brief ceremony they match the new entry on movement of passengers namely premium class coaches.
He pointed out the metre-gauge connecting train links the old Nairobi Central Station with the new Nairobi SGR Terminus.
“The government is at an advanced stage to revamp the busy Ruiru commuter railway line through the support of the World Bank,” he disclosed.
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