The revival of the Ksh3 billion Nairobi-Nanyuki metre-gauge railway line project by the government is in limbo despite the state's effort to rehabilitate the 177 Km line.
According to a report by Nation, it has emerged that the technical factors and design are a major hindrance to the rail's operations.
This incorporates the use of old technology used in the 1930s hence hampering the types of locomotives that can ride on it as well as their capacity.
“The rails are narrower and support less load because it has lower poundage," a KR employee intimated.
Further, the staffer pointed out that the technology has hampered operations along the line. For instance, the Nanyuki train can only ferry three tank wagons of petroleum in a week, whereby one trip takes between five to seven hours.
This is also hindered by the geographical location whereby the train at times has to detach a few wagons at Sagana in order to reduce the load.
A metre-gauge line can only allow a load of 47kg per metre of rail as compared to the Standard Gauge railway line which allows loads of 60kg per metre.
"Too much load will break the line, especially along the Thika-Nanyuki stretch. This means that we have to reduce the load at the Thika station and Sagana," the employee stated.
The Nanyuki train has been experiencing setbacks in the recent past. This has seen the train stall four times and also catch fire in under six months.
The problems associated with the line have caused the likelihood of attracting more passengers to become bleak.
Further, the corporation recently introduced the transport of livestock to and fro the route in a bid to expand its customer base. However, the service is yet to attract customers as only one shipment has been ferried thus far.
The rehabilitation of the metre gauge line is part of the government's project to provide alternative sources of transport for passengers other than the normal road transport.
This has forced the state to pour billions into rail transport in a bid to revamp the sector as well as improve the transport services within the country.
