WRITTEN BY CHARLES ROBERTS

After receiving funding from development finance institutions, Rift Valley Railways’ renovation program is well underway.

REVIVING THE RAILWAYS IN Kenya & Uganda

Quote

The company says: “We ensure that our customers’ needs for

transport and logistical solutions will be met in a sustainably

efficient and safe manner and with the utmost with respect

to our employees, the environment and communities that live around

our operations, and that we will do so profitably to guarantee a healthy

return on investment for our shareholders.”

RVR provides intermodal

logistical solutions, long-

distance and commuter

passenger transport as well as

freight delivery, which includes

marine services. Its strategic

objectives are to improve

business efficiency, standardise

operations, increase its rail

traffic market share and

strengthen the northern

corridors’ competitiveness.

Freight services and passenger travelAccounting for 95 per cent of all volume and revenue, freight

transportation is RVR’s major concern. The organisation’s main

customers include logistics service providers, cargo owners and

shipping companies. With purpose-designed cars, flat wagons and

storage tanks, RVR is able to handle specialised freight, bulk materials,

fuel and lubricants as well as intermodal containers.

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RIFT VALLEY RAILWAY

Founded in 2006, Rift Valley Railways (RVR) is an operator of freight and passenger train services in Kenya and Uganda. With a 25-year commission that covers more than 2,000 kilometres of track, RVR’s purpose is to “transform lives in Africa with every move.”

“Once the planned rehabilitation is completed, it will be possible to raise line speeds on the re-laid sections from the current restriction of between 25kmh and 30kmh to 70kmh.”

Endeavour Magazine | 51

Over the past few years, RVR has strived to improve this lucrative

area of the business, increasing consignments to over 250,000 tonnes

in 2012. “RVR Freight Services is your flexible partner for overland

transport by rail,” boasts the enterprise. “We run freight trains or

goods trains on a regular schedule to various destinations in Kenya

and Uganda.”

Although passenger travel is only a minor aspect of the business

in terms of numbers, RVR is committed to providing the best possible

service to all travellers.

Daily routes are in operation between Kenya’s main cities

while several commuter trains run in the Greater Nairobi area,

with approximately 500,000 people taking advantage of these

transportation services per month.

Kenya-Uganda RailwayRecognised as one of the region’s oldest assets that brings

communities together and encourages business, this railway line runs

from the shores of the Indian Ocean, through Kenya’s rich agricultural

Renovation programIn August 2011, RVR received a financial package to fund part of a

US$287 million five-year capital expenditure program to rehabilitate

infrastructure and rolling stock. The project aimed to tackle the

problem of derailments by replacing worn out track, refurbish

old locomotives and integrate information technology systems to

improve operations and reduce costs.

“Once the planned rehabilitation exercise is completed, it will be

possible to raise line speeds on the re-laid sections from the current

restriction of between 25kmh and 30kmh to 70kmh,” RVR revealed.

“This will significantly improve the reliability and efficiency of the

railway operations and it will enable RVR to operate bigger capacity

trains, thereby, improving the companies loading capacity and

reducing travel hours for trains.”

By the end of 2012, more than US$100 million had been invested

in the turnaround program, with RVR proud to announce that half of

the dilapidated track had been repaired, over 350 wagons had been

refurbished and a new ERP system had been installed.

Recent developmentsLate last year, Kenya’s president Mwai Kibaki opened an extension

of the Nairobi - Embakasi line to

Syokimau, the first new station to

be established in the country for

80 years. Both RVR and Kenya

Railways completed the track

work, while El Noor Construction

built the station.

In June 2013, RVR said

a renovation project on its

northern Uganda branch from

Tororo, near the Kenyan border,

to Pakwach on Lake Albert’s

northern shore, was near

completion and test operations

would begin shortly. With the

line out of operation for 18 years,

work included the removal of

anthills, restoration of washed-

out sections damaged by floods

and new culverts installation.

Darlan De David, CEO, RVR,

RIFT VALLEY RAILWAY

landscape, into the Ugandan

capital Kampala on the edge of

Lake Victoria.

With road transport prices in

East Africa escalating, RVR and

the government recognises the

potential a comprehensive and

reliable rail network has for local

people, tourists and indeed the

economy.

“We see RVR as an important

partner in the economic growth

of our country and the region

where a well performing railway

is an imperative as it is an

important link from the port of

Mombasa into the Eastern Africa

Market,” says Dr Eng. Cyrus

Njiru, permanent secretary at

the Ministry of Transport.

said that following the installation of five level crossings, trial runs

would begin on 31 July. The route will increase the amount of cargo

entering Kenya from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South

Sudan.

Future plansLooking ahead, RVR’s vision is “to be the leading transport and

logistics solutions provider in Africa by year 2020.” Once the Kenya-

Uganda railway rejuvenation project is complete, the company hopes

the numerous upgrades will translate into “the provision of quality

and reliable services to RVR’s customers.

“Overtime, the improved rail service should play a critical role in

bringing down the cost of goods and services in the region.”

In the near future, RVR plans to increase the life cycle of its

locomotives by changing engines, traction motors and compressors,

install automated track warrant software and on-board computer

systems, and continue to rehabilitate lines, wagons and culverts.

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48 | Endeavour Magazine

RIFT VALLEY RAILWAY

00254 20 2044476/80

WWW.RIFTVALLEYRAIL.COM

REVIVING THE RAILWAYS IN Kenya & Uganda

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