Kenya Railways Corporation
Encyclopedia
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya
. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.
was transformed into the East African Railways and Harbours Corporation
(EARC) after World War I
. The EARC managed the railways of Uganda
, Kenya, and Tanganyika
until the collapse of the East African Community
in 1977. Subsequently KR took over the Kenyan part of the EARC.
of (metre gauge
). The reason was that when the British started the railroad construction at the end of the nineteenth century they utilized material and workers from India. The Indian gauge and rolling stock was .
The mainline of the KR is based on the original Uganda Railway
. Its 930 km (578 mi) main track connected the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa
to the port of Kisumu
at Lake Victoria
. Half way is the capital of Nairobi
that was founded as a rail depot of the UR. The British added several branch lines as well as a link to Tanzania
and a link to Uganda - the total system eventually had 2778 km (1,726 mi) of track.
As of 2006 much of the overall railway system has been neglected or is in disrepair. Nevertheless the mainline from Mombasa to Kisumu is operative though at reduced speed. For passengers, the “Jumbo Kenya Deluxe” connects Nairobi and Mombasa. The fourteen hour overnight trip runs three times a week either eastbound or westbound on the single track
. The “Port Florence Express” connects Nairobi with Kisumu.
KR also operates the Kenyan ferry system
on Lake Victoria.
In 2010, KRX announced plans to construct a new station on Mombasa Road in Nairobi; part of a planned commuter network which would include an airport link.
s are common. The maximum speed of trains on the railway is 30 mph (48.3 km/h).
Notable accidents include these:
(RVRC) from South Africa won the concession to run KR and Uganda Railways Corporation
. RVRC was to take over operations on 1 August 2006 and intends to stream line operations, reduce the work force, and make major investments to upgrade the system. On 28 July 2006 the East African Standard reported that the planned take-over was postponed to 1 November 2006. This operational take-over took place in November and is scheduled to last for 25 years.
On 9 October 2008, Toll Holdings
of Australia announced that it has entered into a contract to manage the Kenya
-Uganda
railway, replacing the management by Rift Valley Railways Consortium. The consortium has been criticized for falling freight traffic in the two years since taking control, while RVR alleges the drop is due to the poor condition of the railway infrastructure and the damage done by protesters during the 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
. Officers from Toll subsidiary Patrick Defence Logistics were to manage the railway after the transition.
Towards the end of 2008, after just a few months in charge, Toll pulled out of its management obligations after disagreements with the owners and the Toll appointed MD resigned, mirroring a similar reversal of appetite that occurred when Toll took over Tranz Rail
(New Zealand's privatised rail operator) in 2003.
sections of railway were destroyed. As a result shipments to Uganda were suspended.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.
History
The original Uganda RailwayUganda Railway
The Uganda Railway is a railway system and former railway company linking the interiors of Uganda and Kenya with the Indian Ocean at Mombasa in Kenya.-Origins:...
was transformed into the East African Railways and Harbours Corporation
East African Railways and Harbours Corporation
The East African Railways and Harbours Corporation was formed in 1948 for the new East African High Commission by merging the Kenya and Uganda Railways and Harbours with the Tanganyika Railway of the Tanganyika Territory...
(EARC) after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The EARC managed the railways of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Kenya, and Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
until the collapse of the East African Community
East African Community
The East African Community is an intergovernmental organisation comprising the five east African countries Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Pierre Nkurunziza, the President of the Republic of Burundi, is the current Chairman of the East African Community. The EAC was originally...
in 1977. Subsequently KR took over the Kenyan part of the EARC.
Operations
Like the other members of the EAC Kenya utilizes the narrow gauge track gaugeRail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
of (metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
). The reason was that when the British started the railroad construction at the end of the nineteenth century they utilized material and workers from India. The Indian gauge and rolling stock was .
The mainline of the KR is based on the original Uganda Railway
Uganda Railway
The Uganda Railway is a railway system and former railway company linking the interiors of Uganda and Kenya with the Indian Ocean at Mombasa in Kenya.-Origins:...
. Its 930 km (578 mi) main track connected the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
to the port of Kisumu
Kisumu
Kisumu is a port city in western Kenya at , with a population of 355,024 . It is the third largest city in Kenya, the principal city of western Kenya, the immediate former capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu County. It has a municipal charter but no city charter...
at Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
. Half way is the capital of Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
that was founded as a rail depot of the UR. The British added several branch lines as well as a link to Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and a link to Uganda - the total system eventually had 2778 km (1,726 mi) of track.
As of 2006 much of the overall railway system has been neglected or is in disrepair. Nevertheless the mainline from Mombasa to Kisumu is operative though at reduced speed. For passengers, the “Jumbo Kenya Deluxe” connects Nairobi and Mombasa. The fourteen hour overnight trip runs three times a week either eastbound or westbound on the single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
. The “Port Florence Express” connects Nairobi with Kisumu.
KR also operates the Kenyan ferry system
Lake Victoria ferries
Lake Victoria ferries are motor ships carrying freight and passengers between Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya on Lake Victoria...
on Lake Victoria.
In 2010, KRX announced plans to construct a new station on Mombasa Road in Nairobi; part of a planned commuter network which would include an airport link.
Accidents
Although KR has been an economic lifeline, it has been plagued by safety issues. DerailmentDerailment
A derailment is an accident on a railway or tramway in which a rail vehicle, or part or all of a train, leaves the tracks on which it is travelling, with consequent damage and in many cases injury and/or death....
s are common. The maximum speed of trains on the railway is 30 mph (48.3 km/h).
Notable accidents include these:
- In 1993, 114 perished in a Mombasa-bound passenger train which plunged into a river after floods washed away a bridge at Ngai Ndethya.
- In 1999, 32 died at Tsavo National ParkTsavo National ParkTsavo National Park may refer to:* Tsavo East National Park, a national park in Kenya on the eastern side of the A109 road.* Tsavo West National Park, a national park in Kenya on the western side of the A109 road....
when brakes on a passenger train failed, making it derail. - In 2000, 13 died near KisumuKisumuKisumu is a port city in western Kenya at , with a population of 355,024 . It is the third largest city in Kenya, the principal city of western Kenya, the immediate former capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu County. It has a municipal charter but no city charter...
after a passenger train rolled backwards due to failed brakes. - In 2000, at least 25 were burnt to death after a freight train carrying gas exploded.
- On the morning of 16 October 2005, a matatuMatatuIn Kenya and neighboring nations matatu are privately owned minibuses although pick-up trucks were in the past pressed into service as these East African share taxis. Often decorated, many matatu feature portraits of the famous or slogans and sayings, some religious.These minibuses ply set routes,...
(taxi minibus) was struck by a passenger train near Kisumu. Six people died and 23 more were injured.
2006 Management change
The KR has suffered from inefficient management, has a bloated work force, and has run deficit operations in spite of its potential. For several years there had been plans to privatize and revitalize the system. In 2005, Rift Valley Railways ConsortiumRift Valley Railways Consortium
The Rift Valley Railways Consortium is a consortium that was established to manage the parastatal railways of Kenya and Uganda. The consortium won the bid for private management of the century-old Kenya-Uganda railway in 2005.-History:...
(RVRC) from South Africa won the concession to run KR and Uganda Railways Corporation
Uganda Railways Corporation
Uganda Railways Corporation is the parastatal railway of Uganda. It was formed after the breakup of the East African Railways Corporation in 1977 when it took over the Ugandan part of the East African railways....
. RVRC was to take over operations on 1 August 2006 and intends to stream line operations, reduce the work force, and make major investments to upgrade the system. On 28 July 2006 the East African Standard reported that the planned take-over was postponed to 1 November 2006. This operational take-over took place in November and is scheduled to last for 25 years.
On 9 October 2008, Toll Holdings
Toll Holdings
TOLL , properly TOLL Holdings Limited, is Australia's largest transport company, based in Melbourne, Victoria. The company has operations in road, rail, sea and air in 55 countries....
of Australia announced that it has entered into a contract to manage the Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
-Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
railway, replacing the management by Rift Valley Railways Consortium. The consortium has been criticized for falling freight traffic in the two years since taking control, while RVR alleges the drop is due to the poor condition of the railway infrastructure and the damage done by protesters during the 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
The 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis refers to a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis that erupted in Kenya after incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential election held on December 27, 2007. Supporters of Kibaki's opponent, Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic...
. Officers from Toll subsidiary Patrick Defence Logistics were to manage the railway after the transition.
Towards the end of 2008, after just a few months in charge, Toll pulled out of its management obligations after disagreements with the owners and the Toll appointed MD resigned, mirroring a similar reversal of appetite that occurred when Toll took over Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
(New Zealand's privatised rail operator) in 2003.
2008 riots
During the riots of the 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
The 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis refers to a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis that erupted in Kenya after incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential election held on December 27, 2007. Supporters of Kibaki's opponent, Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic...
sections of railway were destroyed. As a result shipments to Uganda were suspended.
See also
- Lunatic Express
- Rail transport in KenyaRail transport in KenyaThe former Uganda Railway, was run by the company East African Railways jointly for the countries of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya after World War I. Since the dissolution of the EAR corporation in 1977 the national company Kenya Railways Corporation runs the former Uganda Railway and its branches in...
- Tanzania Railways CorporationTanzania Railways CorporationThe Tanzania Railways Corporation ' is a state-owned enterprise that runs one of Tanzania's two main railway networks.When the East African Railways and Harbours Corporation was dissolved in 1977 and its assets divided between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, TRC was formed to take over EARH's railway,...
- Transport in Kenya
- Nairobi railway stationNairobi railway stationNairobi railway station is a railway station located in Nairobi, Kenya. The station is on the Uganda Railway, and runs services to Mombasa three times per week...