Larger trains are a way of making rail freight transport even more efficient
cargo between Mombasa and Nairobi has been reduced from 12 hours to four hours with accruing benefits expected to trickle to businesses in landlocked Uganda , Rwanda , Burundi and DRC when the line is finally extended to these countries .
Already construction is under way for the first stretch of the 375km ‘ phase two ’ line from Kenya ’ s capital Nairobi to Malaba , a town on the Kenya / Uganda border . This first stretch , also known as Phase 2A , will link Nairobi and Naivasha town that lies 120km to the northwest of the capital .
At Naivasha , Kenya is developing one of the most modern industrial zones next to Africa ’ s largest geothermal power generation complex of Olkaria .
To woo more investors to the industrial zone , Kenya has announced subsidised electricity tariffs and the power connection will be direct to Olkaria to avert possible supply disruptions . In addition , manufacturers of apparel will be allowed access to steam at Olkaria as an incentive .
More advantages from the launch of SGR freight service trains are expected for businesses in Ethiopia and Djibouti with the recent completion and operationalization of the 784km Addis Ababa-Djibouti Port electrified railway line .
Djibouti handles up to 90 % of Ethiopia ’ s trade and the launch of the modern SGR , the first modern electrified railway line in Eastern
53