(3 minutes read)
- The Kisumu Safari Train of Kenya is back in service after a lapse of more than 10 years
- The train service was stopped due to a dilapidated railway line. With the relaunch, the railways hope that its customers would return since the reintroduction could streamline the transportation services by reducing the traffic snags and making travel to the destinations cheaper
- The train connects Nairobi to Kisumu.
The Kisumu Safari Train of Kenya is back in service after a lapse of more than 10 years. The train service was stopped due to a dilapidated railway line. With the relaunch, the railways hope that its customers would return since the reintroduction could streamline the transportation services by reducing the traffic snags and making travel to the destinations cheaper..
The train connects Nairobi to Kisumu. Uhuru Kenyatta’s government is undertaking infrastructure projects meant to cement his legacy. The train received overwhelming reception from the public. Its all coaches were booked mostly because of the festive season. Amidst celebrations of the relaunch, there were voices of resentments regarding the 12-hour journey that on average takes 7 hours by road.
Former Prime Minister and opposition leader, Raila Odinga was among the first passengers aboard the train. The state corporation Kenya Railways is promoted as an alternative and is cheaper than the road transport. Presently, the railways charge only less as compared to transport in buses and other vehicles. While the passengers are cheering the re-introduction of the train, the Kenyan government hopes that the service would spur economic development in towns that are along the railway line and also ease travel between the capital and the lakeside city of Kisumu.
