Passengers Stuck Inside Madaraka Express Train as Tremors Hit Voi

President Uhuru Kenyatta flags off SGR Phase 2A at the Nairobi Terminus on Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta flags off SGR Phase 2A at the Nairobi Terminus on Wednesday, October 16, 2019
PSCU

Passengers aboard the Madaraka Express train travelling from Mombasa to Nairobi were on Wednesday, October 21, stuck for an hour at Ndii area, Voi Sub-county.

According to the multi-agency team, the 5-hour journey was temporarily cut short after a series of earth tremors rocked Taita Taveta County.

This forced the authorities to delay the journey as they embarked on inspecting the railway to ascertain whether it had been affected by the tremors.

Passengers at one of the Madaraka Express stations
Passengers at one of the Madaraka Express stations
File

The train was later allowed to continue the journey after the multi-agency team gave the green light. The agency stated that the tremors that have been witnessed in the area did not interfere with the railway.

The Madaraka Express train resumed full passenger service in August after months of being grounded due to Covid-19. 

The two intercounty service trains depart Mombasa and Nairobi every morning at 8 am and arrive at opposite destinations at around 2 pm. They then make a second express journey at 3 pm arriving at their respective destinations at around 8 pm. 

The intercounty train makes stopovers at Athi River, Emali, Kibwezi, Mtito Andei, Voi, Miasenyi and Mariakani stations.

This is not the first time the region is experiencing earth tremors. On August 12 this year, an earthquake magnitude of 6 hit several areas along the Coast region with its effects being felt in parts of Nairobi.

The tremor was felt in different parts of Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties. Residents of Ruaka and Ruiru in Nairobi also felt the effects of the earthquake that caused panic in the coast of Tanzania.

The tremors are said to have lasted between 7 and 10 seconds.

A photo of SGR Nairobi terminus
A photo of SGR Nairobi terminus
Daily Nation