Kevin85ify
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 6, 2019
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Nairobi commuter rail a project funded by the world bank to the tune of $290 million has started taking shape . The start date of the service is October 2020. Here is a list of what has been done and what is still in progress.
Track
Already 160 km of 200 km of rail has been rehabilitated in phase 1. The portion that remains is the avenue park to embakasi station track.
Train stations
10 New train stations have been built at donholm, avenue park, embakasi,dandora,kikuyu,kibera,githurai, mwiki, Ruiru and Athi River.
The new train stations contain automatic ticketing and entry control systems that scan your ticket before you get access to the boarding platform.
Reclaiming Land From Trespassers
Kenya railways has already reclaimed 90% all the land on the commuter rail network from traders who had encroached onto the railway.
Recently demolitions of stalls, illegal matatu termini and illegal markets was completed along outer ring road especially around the location where Taj mall once stood.
Reclaimed corridor and track laying at the outer ring road and eastern bypass interchange heading to embakasi station
Trains
Already 5 out of the 11 commuter DMUs ordered from spain have arrived and are being repainted and inspected at the Kenya railways workshops by Kenya railways engineers and ineco engineers from spain.
CAF the manufacturers of the DMUs completed an overhaul and refurbishment of the trains and have already signed contracts to supply spare parts for 25 years and also to share with Numerical machining Complex designs of parts that will be manufactured in Kenya.
The DMU has a capacity of 300 passengers complete with docking stations for bicycles and dedicated areas on board for wheelchairs for those with disabilities.
The DMU has a maximum speed of 100 km/hr but will probably be hitting an average of 80 km/hr all across the network. They also come equipped with an automatic stop system to remotely stop the train if the driver does not follow operators instructions.
The Commuter rail DMU in sfm colors
Train monitoring and management
A new ATC (Automatic train control) is being installed for the commuter rail. The ATC is split into three parts, Automatic Train Protection (ATP), Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and Automatic Train Supervision (ATS). The ATS system is responsible for monitoring and controlling the rail system to ensure that it conforms to an intended schedule and traffic pattern in order to optimize railway operations and service reliability.
A new and modern commuter train monitoring centre at Nairobi central station is complete and awaiting launch of the service.
The new system will be able to accomodate the current higher speed of the commuter rail and also the future traffic once double tracking of the commuter rail is started.
The new monitoring centre at Nairobi Central station supplied by CRBC.
Greening and Beautification of the corridor.
This is yet to begin but will take place after operations have started. Kenya railways plans to plant grass and to beautify the corridor once operations have begun.
Future
The future of the commuter rail is
i) Double tracking to increase capacity,
ii) An additional 7 km line from JKIA will be built.
iii) The service will be extended to Ruai, Kangundo and other areas of Nairobi metropolitan yet to be reached and 15 more stations will be built.
iv) Mombasa (259 km) and Kisumu commuter rails are also planned by GOK and the world bank. The world bank has already committed to fund to the tune of $400 million each commuter rail network in Mombasa and kisumu
Track
Already 160 km of 200 km of rail has been rehabilitated in phase 1. The portion that remains is the avenue park to embakasi station track.
Train stations
10 New train stations have been built at donholm, avenue park, embakasi,dandora,kikuyu,kibera,githurai, mwiki, Ruiru and Athi River.
The new train stations contain automatic ticketing and entry control systems that scan your ticket before you get access to the boarding platform.
Reclaiming Land From Trespassers
Kenya railways has already reclaimed 90% all the land on the commuter rail network from traders who had encroached onto the railway.
Recently demolitions of stalls, illegal matatu termini and illegal markets was completed along outer ring road especially around the location where Taj mall once stood.
Reclaimed corridor and track laying at the outer ring road and eastern bypass interchange heading to embakasi station
Trains
Already 5 out of the 11 commuter DMUs ordered from spain have arrived and are being repainted and inspected at the Kenya railways workshops by Kenya railways engineers and ineco engineers from spain.
CAF the manufacturers of the DMUs completed an overhaul and refurbishment of the trains and have already signed contracts to supply spare parts for 25 years and also to share with Numerical machining Complex designs of parts that will be manufactured in Kenya.
The DMU has a capacity of 300 passengers complete with docking stations for bicycles and dedicated areas on board for wheelchairs for those with disabilities.
The DMU has a maximum speed of 100 km/hr but will probably be hitting an average of 80 km/hr all across the network. They also come equipped with an automatic stop system to remotely stop the train if the driver does not follow operators instructions.
The Commuter rail DMU in sfm colors
Train monitoring and management
A new ATC (Automatic train control) is being installed for the commuter rail. The ATC is split into three parts, Automatic Train Protection (ATP), Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and Automatic Train Supervision (ATS). The ATS system is responsible for monitoring and controlling the rail system to ensure that it conforms to an intended schedule and traffic pattern in order to optimize railway operations and service reliability.
A new and modern commuter train monitoring centre at Nairobi central station is complete and awaiting launch of the service.
The new system will be able to accomodate the current higher speed of the commuter rail and also the future traffic once double tracking of the commuter rail is started.
The new monitoring centre at Nairobi Central station supplied by CRBC.
Greening and Beautification of the corridor.
This is yet to begin but will take place after operations have started. Kenya railways plans to plant grass and to beautify the corridor once operations have begun.
Future
The future of the commuter rail is
i) Double tracking to increase capacity,
ii) An additional 7 km line from JKIA will be built.
iii) The service will be extended to Ruai, Kangundo and other areas of Nairobi metropolitan yet to be reached and 15 more stations will be built.
iv) Mombasa (259 km) and Kisumu commuter rails are also planned by GOK and the world bank. The world bank has already committed to fund to the tune of $400 million each commuter rail network in Mombasa and kisumu