Madaraka Express: Kenya Railways Announces Changes on SGR

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train at a railway station
The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train at Kibwezi railway station.
Photo
Kenya Railways

The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) unveiled its plans to increase the number of coaches plying the Standard Gauge Railway route to Mombasa.

In a statement shared on Sunday, November 6, the corporation announced that the changes had already been implemented.

KRC explained that the change was necessitated by a sudden spike of passenger demands to and from the Coast region.

"Over the past few days, we have experienced an unprecedented surge in demand for the Madaraka Express Passenger Service.

An image of the Nairobi terminus station.
The SGR Nairobi terminus station.
Photo
Kenya Railways

We have therefore increased the number of coaches on the trains plying this route, effective this afternoon, to and from Nairobi," read the statement in part.

The changes came just two days after national carrier pilots downed their tools affecting leisure and business travels both locally and internationally.

Services at Kenya's major airports including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) ground to a halt leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Other affected airports included Moi International in Mombasa, Kisumu International Airport and Eldoret Airport in Uasin Gishu.

Talks were still in progress to have all the striking pilots return to work before major losses are realised.

The changes, on the other hand, could improve the revenues generated by SGR after years of losses transferring the payment of the half a trillion borrowed to finance its construction.

In the year ending June 2022, the Madaraka Express made an operating loss of Ksh3.4 billion while Ksh22.7 billion were made in loan repayments.

Today, the total debt Kenya owes has crossed Ksh9 trillion.

Standard Gauge Railway passing through Nairobi National Park and lions watching from a distance
Standard Gauge Railway passing through Nairobi National Park and lions watching from a distance
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