The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has transported over 14.8 million passengers between Nairobi and Mombasa since its inaugural service in June 2017.

In an update by Africa Star Railway Operation Company (AfriStar), the organization that is charged with running and maintaining the SGR, the transport system hauled over 3.018 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and 38.47 million tonnes of goods as of Feb. 28, this year.

"We have recorded 2,831 days of safe SGR operations. We continue to aim higher," AfriStar said in the statement.

According to Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), the SGR saw revenue collection from the SGR passenger train segment increase by 36 percent between January and September 2024 despite a reduction in traffic.

During the nine-month period, the SGR collected KES2.9 billion in revenue, up from KES2.1 billion during in the same period in 2023, the KRC added.

Key Facts About Kenya's SGR

Phases of Development:

• Mombasa-Nairobi (Phase 1): Opened in 2017, this 472Km railway connects Kenya's Port of Mombasa to the capital city, Nairobi.
• Nairobi-Naivasha (Phase 2A): Opened in 2019. This 120Km extension reaches Suswa, passing through Ongata Rongai, Ngong, and Mai Mahiu.
• Future Extensions (Planned): There are plans to extend the SGR to Kisumu and Malaba, (subject to securing a fianancier) to link Kenya to Uganda. Currently, funding challenges have slowed progress.

Construction & Funding:

• Built by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).
• Funded largely through loans from the Exim Bank of China.
• Total cost: Approx. $4.7 billion for the first two phases.

Economic Impact:

• Reduced travel time between Mombasa and Nairobi from 12+ hours by road to 5 hours by train.
• Facilitates faster movement of cargo from the Port of Mombasa to Nairobi’s Inland Container Depot (ICD).
• Boosted tourism and trade along the railway corridor.