The revamped Nairobi Commuter Rail Service (NCRS) development is expected to provide a viable traffic solution to individuals who commute into and out of the Nairobi Central Business District.
The project, which is part of the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Master Plan, aims to create an efficient and affordable mass rapid transport system for the city.
According to the Kenya Railways website, the project is set to be developed in three phrases.
Phase one will be developed within the existing railway corridors to provide commuter rail services between Nairobi Railway Station and destinations such as Ruiru, Syokimau, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kikuyu and Embakasi village.
Phase two will be within the existing railway corridor and will extend commuter rail services to: Thika, Limuru, and Lukenya.
Phase three on the other hand, will be within new railway corridors and will target the outlying satellite towns such as: Ongata Rongai, Kiserian, Ngong, Kiambu, Ruai and Kangemi.
In addition, the Nairobi Commuter System plans to add new stations at Buru Buru, Pipeline,Umoja, Githurai, Donholm.
Kenya Railways acquired 11 refurbished DMUs, five coaches and spare parts from Spain at a negotiated price of Ksh1.15 billion.
The trains will see an increase in passenger capacity from five million passengers to 15 million passengers initially, then to 60 million passengers per year in Phase 1.
On October 4, Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) disclosed that the trains were set to become operational having arrived into the country back in August from Mallorca, Spain.
"Kenya! We have something new, fast and efficient. Mko ready?," reads a post from the official handle of Kenya Railways Corporation.
An exact date has, however not been revealed by KRC but operations are expected to commence by end of the year.
