Kenya's planned new railway
Posted: 15 Jun 2010, 12:30
KENYA’S PLANNED NEW RAILWAY
Posted on 14 June 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Kenya and Uganda plan freight trains running three times as fast as at present and carrying ten times as much – within three years. Kenya Railways managing director Nduva Muli foresees loads in excess of 30 million tons annually.
He told Reuters that trains on the existing metre gauge track travel at about 40km/h using single-deck wagons carrying at most two short containers. On the new standard gauge line, longer trains would comprise wagons with double-deck container holders, carry 10,000 tonnes of freight and travelling at an average speed of 100-120km/h.
“Years of mismanagement in Kenya and Uganda have meant their governments neglected proper maintenance of tracks and trains on the existing line. As a result, much of the freight destined for Kenya’s interior and landlocked neighbours is moved by road. Although a much cheaper form of transport, the railway carries less than 6% of cargo destined for Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, parts of Tanzania, south Sudan and Ethiopia.â€
Posted on 14 June 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Kenya and Uganda plan freight trains running three times as fast as at present and carrying ten times as much – within three years. Kenya Railways managing director Nduva Muli foresees loads in excess of 30 million tons annually.
He told Reuters that trains on the existing metre gauge track travel at about 40km/h using single-deck wagons carrying at most two short containers. On the new standard gauge line, longer trains would comprise wagons with double-deck container holders, carry 10,000 tonnes of freight and travelling at an average speed of 100-120km/h.
“Years of mismanagement in Kenya and Uganda have meant their governments neglected proper maintenance of tracks and trains on the existing line. As a result, much of the freight destined for Kenya’s interior and landlocked neighbours is moved by road. Although a much cheaper form of transport, the railway carries less than 6% of cargo destined for Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, parts of Tanzania, south Sudan and Ethiopia.â€