The first batch of the freight locomotives for Kenya’s SGR project has arrived in the country ready for testing process later.
The locomotives were received by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development, Mr. James Macharia at a ceremony held at Mombasa’s Port Reitz Station, which is the starting point for the SGR’s Mombasa-Nairobi line.
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According to Macharia the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR has proved that the government of Jubilee is committed towards ensuring that the project is completed on time as per the contracts terms and conditions.
“We have seen the SGR being constructed as we had expected and no doubt this is a major milestone and we believe that the project will be completed on time” he added.
The Cs said that a total of Six locomotives docked at the port, four of which are freight locomotives of the model DF8B diesel with locomotive power of 3100KW and a maximum speed of 100 km/h.
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“We expect more 56 fleet locomotives in the country once the project is completed mid 2017 and they will arrive in four intervals “he added
The batches include three models once for passengers; freight and shunting locomotives and they will all serve the local residents.
In the event that was also attended by the Kenya Railways Managing Director, Atanas Maina and more consultants and officials of the projects.
“We expect more to be done on the project right on time so that the residents can start benefiting directly from their project” he added
He said that they have been also able to promote local manufacturers as three of the models were locally made and the operations and maintenance will be done by the local personnel’s.
