The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has commenced constructing new stations in a number of estates in Nairobi and other satellite towns in a move to increase commuter numbers and boost the country's transport system.
The new project is being developed within the existing railway corridors to enhance commuter rail services to Nairobi Railway Station.
Some of Nairobi estates set to benefit from the new project include Kibera, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mutindwa, Satellite, Kenyatta University, and other satellite areas in Lukenya and Konza in Machakos County.
Other areas set to benefit from the new project by Kenya Railways Corporation include Dagoretti Market, Thogoto, Aviation, Gitaru, Kariobangi South, Mutuini, Membley and Madaraka around the Strathmore area.
At the moment, KRC has trains plying Nairobi- Imara Daima-Syokimau route, Githurai-Mwiki – Kahawa – Ruiru route, Nairobi-Embakasi route, and Nairobi – Kibera – Kikuyu route.
The project was launched with the purpose of creating an efficient and affordable mass rapid transit transport system for the city as well as integrate rail with other modes of transport in the country.
"Currently, we have about three stations in Kibera,” KRC Managing Director Philip Mainga stated.
He added, "We have just completed Mukuru Kwa Njenga. The Kenyatta University station is ongoing as well as several others."
To decongest the city and improve transport system, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the revamped Nairobi Commuter Rail Service (NCRS). He further introduced revamped Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) .
The project also saw the introduction of commuter Rail Buses in a Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Master Plan in modernisation of the city.
The Nairobi station serves as the nerve center for the project connecting routes including Embakasi Village, Pipeline and Donholm Railway Stations.
This comes even as the Railways Corporation aims at addressing the recurring problem of trains derailing on routes and even delays.
In the last instance, train plying Daima Imara route delayed for a few hours forcing commuters to adjust their schedules.
But away from the city, Kenya Railways has been rehabilitating the Kisumu Butere line in a move aimed at boosting cargo and passenger transport in the Western corridor.
The project is in its advanced stage setting be officially launched mid this year.
