President William Ruto on Thursday alongside his Cabinet announced plans to upgrade the Nairobi Commuter Rail, this was after discussing the implementation of the Kenya Urban Improvement Project in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
During the Cabinet meeting held at State House Nairobi, resolved to upgrade the 163-kilometre Nairobi Commuter Rail network in the coming months.
According to the cabinet dispatch, this project will be carried out in phases and the first phase will include the improvement of the 58KM stretch between Nairobi Central Railway Station and Thika.
When completed, this project will ease traffic and improve the commute between the two towns. It will also improve trade in the two regions.
Besides the upgrade, other projects to be undertaken in relation to railway transport include the acquisition of new locomotives which will increase the capacity of passengers.
Cabinet also resolved to upgrade feeder roads that connect to the commuter rail station in Nairobi.
Conclusively, the government will also improve non-motorised transport infrastructure. This may include creating better paths for cyclists and pedestrians as well as bicycle parking to reduce congestion in the area leading to the station,
This came a few months after Kenya secured about Ksh19 billion (€128 million) from the French government to modernise the Nairobi Commuter rail.
In March, Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo signed an agreement with France's Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet to ease traffic in the capital city.
Per the agreement, the funding would be used for several features including installing an automatic fare collection system, a training operating system and an automated level crossing.
The funds will also be used to improve civil works, upgrade signalising and communications systems and procure ICT equipment including servers.
"In a major step in sustainable urban development, a Euro 128 million Loan Agreement for Nairobi's Commuter Line was signed," Treasury announced.
