A MODERN RAILWAY LINE WILL EASE EAST AFRICA'S TRANSPORT HEADACHES

By ZEDDY SAMBUPosted Tuesday, January 26 2010 at 22:00

Kenya is closer to making an ambitious national strategic decision that could help deepen its economic ties with Ethiopia, Southern Sudan and the economies of the Great Lakes region.

Next week Friday, tenders for the design of a new high-speed railway line will be opened, putting into play one of the biggest and most significant infrastructure deals in recent years.

The planned construction, projected to cost Sh320 billion ($4 billion), is expected to take off in two years’ time.

When the plate-laying ceremony was performed on May 30, 1896 in the Indian Ocean coast of Mombasa, it marked the beginning of a new East African century that would open the hinterland to colonialism — and, to a larger part, bring modern medicine, education, gun powder and economic development to the natives.

Lunatic Express

Because of the sheer cost of £5 million in 1896 (Sh610 million at current exchange rates), the drama of marauding lions, disease and death, it would be named the “Lunatic Express”.

Today, Kenya, Uganda and the various nations that will depend on this 1,300-kilometre railway line to export their resources to the world through the Indian Ocean — or access vital supplies — face the deeper challenges of expanding economic development to better the lives of millions of one the most poorest people on the planet.

British engineers a century ago recommended that Kenya and Uganda use the one-metre gauge that was popular in India then. And, because India was to supply the trains, they decided to import a massive labour force from the Indian sub-continent, a decision that would also reshape East African history.

However, the planned broader rail gauge will allow high-speed freight engines and passenger coaches. Freight trains will haul a minimum of 4,000 tonnes of cargo on kilometre-long trains.

Meet demand

The new line is also expected to meet increased transport demands, projected to nearly double to 30 million tonnes by the year 2030.

The search for investors began last year when the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) launched a $4 billion project to build a 1,000-kilometre, standard-gauge line from the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa via the capital, Nairobi, to Malaba on the Ugandan border.

The new line will replace the existing metre-gauge line which KR says will not be able to cope with the projected demand. It will be able to carry 4,000-tonne, 120km/h freight trains and 160km/h double-deck passenger trains.

Rail experts say freight volumes already outstrip available road and rail capacity, causing congestion at the Mombasa Port, which currently handles 17 million tonnes a year.

Current operating speeds on the metre-gauge railway are between 30 and 45km/h.

An ambitious timetable has been drawn for the project. Studies for the new line are to be completed by March 2011, and investors should be in place by July the same year. Construction should start by November 2011.

Officials privy to the plans said they hoped to open the 530-kilometre Mombasa-Nairobi section in 2013, and the remaining section in 2016.

According to the project’s brief, it is envisaged that the Ugandan government will also commence the construction of the section between Malaba and Kampala, and a bilateral agreement to facilitate this is being discussed by the two governments.

The current budget seeks to improve the efficiency of the port of Mombasa, as well as attend to challenges in the railway system.

“The Government of Kenya, working jointly with the Government of Uganda, has made a decision to construct a new standard-gauge railway line from Mombasa to Western Kenya and to Kampala in Uganda. The new railway line will not only reduce the cost of transport, but also facilitate faster movement of freight and passengers, thereby enhancing competitiveness,” the brief says.

Amendments

Treasury has proposed to introduce an amendment to the Roads Maintenance Levy Act and the Kenya Roads Board Act to make the road-bed for railway line development and maintenance eligible for funding. Some Sh3 billion has been set aside for that this financial year.

Infrastructure experts say construction of the new railway will significantly reduce the maintenance costs of the Northern Corridor.

Freight volumes have grown beyond previous projections and already outstrip available transport capacity — both road and rail — causing perennial congestion at the Mombasa Port, and the situation is bound to get worse if a projected freight growth of eight per cent annually is anything to go by.

The current 100-year-old metre-gauge railway line has a limited capacity and cannot cope with this increased demand.

Transportation costs in Kenya and the East African region constitute 40 to 45 per cent of the total cost of production, against a global average of 15 per cent, which makes local products uncompetitive in the global market.

In India and China, for example, railway transport accounts for 90 per cent of long distance freight movement while, in Kenya, a meagre five per cent uses this medium.

COMMENTS:

1. Submitted by fowoko
   Posted January 27, 2010 03:34 PM

   This is a project that was long overdue.But please,the government should award the tender to a good company.I suggest a Chinese company-I find them less bureaucratic in their dealings compared to our "western-development partners".Thika road is on course!!!

2. Submitted by Ndamwem
   Posted January 27, 2010 02:46 PM

   This thing has been discussed for ages. Its actualisation is long overdue. Besides the line from Mombasa to Malava, the country should embrace modern rail transport in major urban areas to ease traffic congestion. The resources are there if we can provide an enabling environment for investors

3. Submitted by nko
   Posted January 27, 2010 09:40 AM

   Yeah it is one of those things that keep on repeating. Lets do a way with these scams once and for all

4. Submitted by knyesu
   Posted January 27, 2010 08:46 AM

   actually singapore their discpline far much better than th u.s n good thing is they are not chinese, japan or this other odd country pple.you cnt even chew gum in tht country its illegal. n dare to chew.utajionea.

5. Submitted by davnell09
   Posted January 27, 2010 01:55 AM

   i bet the tender will go to the chinese company even though the idea and vision came from a german company(thormaehlen gmbh)who already have southern sudanese backing.

6. Submitted by werssylwer
   Posted January 27, 2010 01:28 AM

   I say go for it. Just make sure we dont have conmen waiting in the wings.

7. Submitted by MichaOlga
   Posted January 26, 2010 11:41 PM

   I think the tender should be given to a German company. They have absolutely the best roads and unshakable discipline.

8. Submitted by veritas
   Posted January 26, 2010 11:37 PM

   Just out of curiosity: Is the 'preeminent investor' Mr Roy Puffet providing the captial to fund this project also? Come Jamhuri day, we should award him an EBS! And Uganda too should decorate him with the highest medal of honour.