Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway braves pandemic to stay afloat

Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway service Madaraka Express has shifting from moving citizens to keeping a core transportation system operational with a skeleton crew, ensuring freight and key essential workers continue to move. This has enabled them to maintain operations during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Virginia Munyao, a communications advisor at Africa Star Railway Operation Company or Afristar, the Chinese company which operates the Kenyan Standard Gauge Railway, the Madaraka Express, has continued to operate the SGR freight services normally, buoyed by the increased inflow of COVID-19 supplies.

"We have been able to achieve this through the deployment of transport, locomotive, rolling stock, track and signaling staff to work during the pandemic period. By June 30, 2020, the company had transported over 196,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit or TEUs. These include 4,633 TEUs of dangerous goods, 4,224 TEUs of grain and 86 TEUs of essential COVID-19 prevention materials such as disinfectants, ethyl and alcohol," Munyao said.

Munyao added in response to government requirements on SGR Phase 2A, Afristar has operated 52 freight trains to the Naivasha Inland Container Depot, transporting 2,494 TEUs destined for Uganda and other East African countries. This has played a role in mitigating the spread of Covid-19 through road transport, underscoring the advantages of rail transport over trucking.

"The last four months have seen a steep rise in the number of bulk goods transported on Madaraka Express as opposed to trucking. Due to containment measures, truckers must undergo mandatory COVID-19 checkups before proceeding on their journeys. This requirement has been a major contributing factor to delays being experienced," Munyao said.

However, latest developments indicate the government has backed down on its earlier directive on use of SGR for all cargo destined for Nairobi and beyond following pressure from regional economies.

James Macharia, Kenya's Transport Cabinet Secretary, told Parliament last week regional governments have demanded additional developments at the Naivasha Inland Container Depot before the directive to pick cargo from the depot can be implemented.

Macharia confirmed the ministry is undertaking additional investments at the Naivasha facility, including an expanded marshalling yard. Work is expected to be completed by July 15.

"For greater efficiency, there is a need for complementarity between Madaraka Express and the trucking industry. Notably, the latter can leverage last-mile transportation by re-engineering their business to take advantage of the integrated transport system spearheaded by the SGR," Munyao said.