SGR Train Stalls Midway From Mombasa

File Photo of Standard Gauge Railway Passenger Train
File Photo of Standard Gauge Railway Passenger Train
File

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train heading to Mombasa from Nairobi on Thursday, November 18 stalled, at  the Lesonkoyo Station.

In a statement released by Kenya Railways, the train developed a mechanical problem, causing undue delay and inconvenience to the passengers.

The corporation stated that it had dispatched a rescue locomotive to enable the passengers complete the journey following the unexpected interruption of their journey.

The Mombasa Terminus of the Standard Gauge Railway.
The Mombasa Terminus of the Standard Gauge Railway.
File

Passengers will be expected to arrive in Mombasa at 4.20pm. Kenya Railways  further asked passengers to be patient and apologised for the inconvenience caused.

The delay is expected to affect the afternoon passenger train from Mombasa as well as the 10pm train

The incident comes  after a Nairobi-bound train stalled on September 29. According to Kenya Railways, the commuter train heading to the Central Business District (CBD) developed mechanical problems.

A crew was dispatched to fix the issue before the train resumed after about 30 minutes. Passengers took to social media to demand for quick response to the crisis. .

This comes at a time when the number of passenger traffic is set to hit the peak as the festive season approaches.

On November, the railway agency announced that the train was fully booked for days leading to Christamas. It further stated that it recorded an increase in advanced bookings, advising those who would want to travel to make arrangements in advance.

Since the beginning of  2021, the corporation has seen several of its trains develop mechanical problems.

The most notable one was a Nairobi-bound train from Nanyuki that burst into flames. Smoke billowed from the train engine as the fist responders swung into action to avert a tragedy in Kabuti village, Kiharu, Murang'a County.

Kenya Railways Management later explained that the cargo train had an electrical fault in its engine, causing sparks and smoke.

An undated photo of a commuter train in Nairobi
Passengers disembark from a commuter train in Nairobi
Kenya Railways