NAIROBI COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE

The Nairobi Commuter Rail Service (NCRS) development is part of Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Master Plan. The project aims to carry out a modernization and expansion of under utilized railway transport infrastructure facilities within Nairobi in order to attract passenger traffic from the roads thus reduce congestion; and create an efficient and affordable mass rapid transit transport system for the city. It will integrate rail transport with other modes of transport road and air transport.

The NCRS project aims at providing passengers with safe, reliable and affordable transport services in and around Nairobi city.

Features of the Nairobi commuter system

•  Increased capacity from 5M passengers to 15m Passengers initially then to 60M passengers per year in Phase 1
•  Modern stations and rolling stock
• Upgraded track and signaling systems
• Higher speeds, safety,comfort and reliability
• New Stations e.g. Buru Buru, Pipeline,Umoja, Githurai, DonholmProject Objective
  • Modernize approximately 100km of track and infrastructure on four major routes radiating from the Central Business District
  • Introduce modern rolling stock
  • Develop a new 6.5 km railway line to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)
  • A Provide safe, reliable and affordable services

  Key Attraction

  • The project has a Public Private Partnership that will ensure attractive returns for investor.
  • The project is high profile and a priority for Kenyans and therefore investors will attract great public support

  Project Drivers

  • Nairobi is the largest city in Kenya and a major transit point in the East African region
  • Number of daily commuters: 1.5 million people per day
  • 85% of Nairobi’s population do not own automobiles and commute by public transportation
  • The new Commuter system will have the capacity to handle 60 million passengers annually

  Economic Benefits

  • Introducing modern and efficient rail infrastructure and passenger trains
  • Providing a link to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), further cementing Nairobi’s position as the commercial hub of Eats Africa.

  Social Benefits
  The project will provide dependable transport services allowing residents of Nairobi to commute to and from reliably.

  Create new opportunities for employment and housing for all its users, including lower income residents of Nairobi
  Nairobi Commuter Rail development Master Plan

  The Nairobi Commuter Rail Project has already undergone a Feasibility Study defining the scope, technical details and development structure, and is now at implementation stage. The project will be developed in three (3) phases as described below.

  Phase 1: This will be developed within the existing railway corridors to provide commuter rail services between Nairobi Railway Station and the following destinations:

  • Ruiru,
  • Syokimau
  • Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,
  • Kikuyu, and
  • Embakasi Village

  This development includes the building of 26 new modern passenger handling stations at the existing railway stations and at new locations. Syokimau, Makadara and Imara Daima railway stationa are complete and operational.

  Phase 2: This development will also be within the existing railway corridor and will extend commuter rail services to:

  • Thika,
  • Limuru, and
  • Lukenya

  Phase 3: This development will be within new railway corridors and will target the outlying satellite towns such as:

  • Ongata Rongai,
  • Kiserian,
  • Ngong,
  • Kiambu,
  • Ruai
  • Kangemi.