A cargo train is launched to operate on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and financed by Chinese government in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, May 30, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

So far, the SGR has moved close to 38,000 metric tons of the government-imported cereal. It is carrying an average of 88 Twenty Foot containers and taking around 8 hours between Mombasa and Nairobi.

The corporation has received 18 more freight locomotives and 60 wagons designed for double-stacking on the SGR freight operations. This will go further in decongesting the Port of Mombasa as well as Mombasa Road.

China Road and Bridge Corporation, the contractor of the depot, is expected to hand over the facility to KR for official commencement of cargo operations in December.

Operations on the SGR line and Madaraka Express service between Mombasa and Nairobi are set to improve the overall efficiency of passenger and freight transportation within the northern corridor.

The modern, high capacity Madaraka Express will carry up to 1 million passengers a year, increasing to 1.5 million passengers a year by the third year of operations. The SGR will also run freight trains.

According to Maina, the relocation plan for the phase two of the SGR project is now complete.

The plan is to establish an extended safety corridor for railway operations and maintenance in Mukuru and Kibera.

Maina noted that the contractor mobilization for phase two is currently ongoing in preparation for land acquisition and subsequent commencement of construction.

"Identification of financiers for the Naivasha sub-county to Kisumu (phase 2 B) of the SGR project is currently ongoing," Maina added.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn