Kenya Railways has announced the resumption of rail services to and from the Port of Mombasa, just a day after temporarily suspending operations due to landslides affecting sections of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
In a statement released on Monday, November 20, the company addressed the recent disruptions and provided an update on the current status of rail services.
According to the statement, the corporation has successfully undertaken interventions to restore normalcy in the damaged section between Mariakani and Mombasa Terminus.
“Kenya Railways wishes to advise you that following the Corporation’s interventions to restore normalcy in the section that was damaged by the heavy rains between Mariakani and Mombasa Terminus, movement of cargo trains to and from Mombasa has now resumed,” the statement read in part.
Kenya Railways highlighted that the loading and offloading of cargo at the Port of Mombasa have recommenced, with the company working to minimize any potential delays.
Kenya Railways assured the public that passenger train services on the SGR would continue as scheduled and emphasized their commitment to safety and reliability.
“We would like to affirm that safety and reliability remain at the core of our operations. The Corporation remains committed to keeping you updated throughout this period. Your patience and understanding during this time are greatly appreciated,” Kenya Railways stated.
Kenya Railways suspends cargo trains
On Saturday, November 18, 2023, Kenya Railways’ Managing Director, Philip Mainga, announced that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line between Mombasa Terminus and Mariakani had encountered landslides owing to the heavy rains.
As a result, cargo rail services were suspended to ensure safety during the ongoing heavy rains.
“Regrettably, we must inform you that there has been an unexpected delay in the evacuation of cargo from Mombasa and Nairobi and delivery of cargo into the Port of Mombasa owing to the heavy rains experienced in Mombasa over the last few days, which have resulted into flooding, wash-aways and landslides in various sections of our rail network. Consequently, this has affected normal train operations, including cargo transfers, loading as well as offloading activities at the Port of Mombasa,” Mainga said.
