State-owned Kenya Railway Corporation has partnered with the World Bank in implementing the 165-kilometer Nairobi rail expansion plan. The corporation will commence a feasibility study for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Nairobi Commuter Rail Network. Moreover, the project is under the World Bank-funded Kenya Urban Mobility Improvement Project (KUMIP) in April. The project aims to expand the rail network from its existing 35 to 53 operational stations with key transit hubs. It also aims to provide support infrastructure to encourage public transport usage.
Furthermore, the project also aims to rehabilitate some of the aging facilities and infrastructure inadequacies in the 165-km rail. The feasibility study and preparation phase for KUMIP is expected to take 24 months from April 2025. Kenya Railway’s Project team leader, John Maina, noted that the first phase will target highly trafficked areas. These include the Nairobi-Ruiru route, which will be extended to Thika Railway station. “The extension of this route will significantly ease congestion on both the rail and road networks,” he noted.
Nairobi Central Railway Station Expansion
Other than the Nairobi rail expansion plans, expansion on the Nairobi Central railway station is also taking shape in fine style. The government has commenced expansion plans on the Nairobi Central Railway station to increase its capacity. The aim is to ease congestion and improve connectivity within the country’s capital. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) from the Kenya Railways Corporation already outlines the scope. Phase one of the Nairobi Railway City project entails addition of other facilities.
These include 2-level buildings as well as station entrances and exits. It also includes platforms and canopies and access footbridge to ease access to the station. According to Kenya Railways, some of the notable developments will take place on the East side of the heritage building. This is where a new entrance building will connect directly to a platform bridge with access to all platforms.
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The Scope of Implementation of the Nairobi Rail Expansion Plan
The scope of implementation regarding the Nairobi rail expansion plan aims to start its first phases by upgrading highly trafficked routes. Subsequent phases will focus on upgrading and operationalizing additional NCR routes, including the Nairobi-Ngong and Nairobi-Kiambu town lines. Furthermore, the project will also focus on modernizing ticketing systems, a priority area highlighted by the World Bank’s Akiko Kishiue. He noted that the government has applied for financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the project.
According to the Managing Director of Kenya Railways, the scope of consultancy work will include undertaking a feasibility study. These include preliminary engineering to assess the viability of upgrading or rehabilitation of the network. Moreover, it also entails the development of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) facilities and access roads. Other expectations also entail the preparation of the engineering requirements for design and build bidding documents. The project also aims to cover access facilities to commuter stations and related infrastructure for selected stations along the Thika line.
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