President Uhuru Kenyatta to launch Nairobi-Suswa SGR line that Chinese Govt stopped funding

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to launch the Nairobi-Suswa train service on Wednesday.

He will commission the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2A, JKIA-Westlands Expressway and groundbreaking for the Naivasha Inland Container Depot.

“The President will make stopovers to commission and address wananchi at SGR Stations along the new railway line in Ongata Rongai, Ngong, Kimuka (Commission Kimuka Water Project), Mai Mahiu and Suswa,” PSCU said.

Through an advertisement in the local dailies, Kenya Railways said the commuter train service will operate from Ngong to Rongai, Maai Mahiu and Suswa.

The Nairobi to Maai Mahiu service is however only available on Sundays from 9am to 1:20pm.

In April this year, the Government has made a surprise admission that the SGR Phase 2A will actually end in Naivasha.

During an interview with the national broadcaster KBC, Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said SGR will be joined to the old meter gauge railway.

His sentiments came hours after news emerged that Kenya’s hopes of getting another SGR loan from China had not succeeded.

Months later, the Government made a controversial pronouncement on the mandatory use of the SGR service by local importers for all import cargo from Mombasa to Nairobi.

The State later pulled the plug on the directive that had elicited concern from traders over pressure for cargo be ferried via the SGR.

SGR services on the Ngong-Nairobi route are available throughout the week from 5:40am to 8:50pm.

On Friday, the train service will be available for commuters traveling on the Ngong-Rongai-Nairobi route.

A Ngong-Rongai ticket will cost Ksh.50 for Economy Class and Ksh. 100 for First Class.

Tickets for the Rongai-Nairobi and Ngong-Nairobi routes will cost Ksh.100 and Ksh.200 on Economy and First Class respectively.

Travelling from Rongai to Suswa using the train will cost Ksh.100 on Economy Class and Ksh.500 on First Class.

A Nairobi-Suswa ticket will cost Ksh.200 and Ksh.650 on the two carriages respectively.