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The usual gauge railway (SGR) posted a 21.2 per cent improve in income within the monetary 12 months to June 2023 pushed by increased cargo haulage and passenger site visitors.
Knowledge from the Kenya Railways Company (KRC) exhibits the SGR made a report Sh18.2 billion in income through the interval, a big improve from Sh15.01 billion it earned the earlier 12 months.
The income is anticipated to rise considerably going ahead after passenger fares have been raised by 50 per cent at first of the 12 months.
The most recent efficiency marks a fifth successive annual improve in SGR income because the prepare service was launched by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017.
Income from SGR makes up 82 per cent of KRC’s income, with the rise serving to push its whole income by 25.6 per cent to Sh22.24 billion.
In the course of the interval, Kenya Railways additionally generated Sh2.36 billion in income from its meter gauge railway (MGR), Sh436 million from the Railway Coaching Institute and Sh1.24 billion from non-rail enterprise akin to hire, museum and lease of kit.
The variety of passengers who used the SGR grew to 2.52 million through the interval, up from 2.35 million within the earlier 12 months.
Freight haulage by way of SGR additionally rose sharply to six.29 million tonnes up from 5.66 million tonnes within the 12 months to June 2022. Demand for cargo transportation by way of the road has grown quickly from 950,396 tonnes in 2017/18.
“The demand for the service grew over the interval arising from its reliability, high quality of service and comfort,” mentioned KRC.
Kenya Railways this month raised fares on the SGR prepare between Nairobi and Mombasa in a bid to maintain up with rising prices of working the service, particularly rising gasoline costs.
Passengers in first-class coaches now pay Sh4,500 from Sh3,000 final 12 months to journey between the 2 cities. These travelling in financial system class are paying Sh1,500 up from Sh1,000.
Kenya Railways step by step started taking up SGR operations from Africa Star Railway Operation Firm in 2021. Managing Director Philip Mainga in March final 12 months mentioned 90 per cent of SGR operations had already been transferred to Kenya Railways.
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