Kenya Railways Corporation

Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a parastatal company.

History

The original Uganda Railway 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. [ [http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail/Kenya/nrm.html History of EARC - Nairobi Railway Museum] ] Subsequently KR took over the Kenyan part of the EARC.

Operations

Like the other members of the EAC Kenya utilizes the narrow gauge track gauge of 1,000 mm. 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 1,000 mm.

The mainline of the KR is based on the original Uganda Railway. Its 930 km 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 2,778 km of track.

As of 2006 much of the overall railway system has been neglected or is in disrepair. [ [http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/36/134.html Status report 2001] ] Nevertheless the mainline from Mombasa to Kisumu is operative. 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 lane track. The “Port Florence Express” connects Nairobi with Kisumu. [ [http://www.seat61.com/Kenya.htm Fares and timetables] ]

KR also operates the Kenyan Lake Victoria ferries
ferry system on Lake Victoria.

Accidents

Although KR has been an economic lifeline, it has been plagued by safety issues. Derailments are common. The maximum speed of trains on the railway is 30 miles / 45 km per hour.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 Park when brakes on a passenger train failed, making it derail.
* In 2000, 13 died near Kisumu 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 October 16, 2005, a matatu (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. [ [http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/36/134.html Deficit operation] ] For several years there had been plans to privatize and revitalize the system. [https://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/44/23/34867819.pdf Privatization plans] ] In 2005, Rift Valley Railways Consortium (RVRC) from South Africa won the concession to run KR and Uganda Railways Corporation. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4342972.stm RVRC wins 2005 concession] ] RVRC was to take over operations on August 1, 2006 and intends to stream line operations, reduce the work force, and make major investments to upgrade the system. [ [http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/eng/sector/transport/?show=75985 Investments planned] ] [ [http://www.railwaysafrica.com/news_african/kenya.php RVRC's management starts August 1, 2006] ] . On July 28, 2006 the East African Standard reported that the planned take-over was postponed to November 1, 2006. [ [http://allafrica.com/stories/200607280144.html Postponed Take-over, accessed July 31, 2006] ] This operational take-over took place in November and is scheduled to last for 25 years. [ [http://business.iafrica.com/african_business/369303.htm "SA Firm gets "Lunatic Express" railway, accessed 12-18-2006] ]

On October 9, 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 will manage the railway after the transition. [cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24472435-643,00.html| title=Toll to manage Kenya-Uganda railway| work=The Australian| author=Speedy, Blair| date=October 10, 2008| accessmonthday=October 11| accessyear=2008| ]

2008 riots

During the riots of the 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis sections of railway were destroyed. As a result shipments to Uganda were suspended. [cite news| url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200801210737.html| author=Tabu Butagira (Kampala)| title=Kenya: Railway Suspends Goods Shipment to Uganda| date=January 21, 2008| accessmonthday=February 8| accessyear=2008| ]

Main stations

* Mombasa
* Voi
** Taveta
* Mtito Andei
* Makindu
* Nairobi
* Naivasha
* Nakuru
* Kisumu
** Butere

See also

*Lunatic Express

References

External links

* [http://www.livesteaming.com/kenya.htm Steam engines ]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4587282.stm Travel experience]
* [http://www.narrow-gauge.co.uk/gallery/93 Gallery]