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Madaraka Express Celebrates 8 Years of Transformative Rail Service

 
 Chinese Ambassador to Kenya H.E. Guo Haiyan(left) joined Kenya Railways leadership.

The Madaraka Express, Kenya's flagship Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) service, marked eight years of successful operations with a celebratory event at Nairobi Terminus that brought together key stakeholders and partners. The occasion served to reflect on the project's remarkable achievements since its launch in 2017 while charting the way forward for Kenya's rail transport sector.  

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya H.E. Guo Haiyan joined Kenya Railways leadership including Chairman Mr. Abdi Bare and Managing Director Mr. Philip J. Mainga (EBS) for an interactive tour of the Nairobi Terminus facilities. The delegation, which included KR Board members, senior management, and Railway Training Institute officials, inspected the modern infrastructure that has made the Madaraka Express a regional benchmark for rail transport. Ambassador Guo hailed the project's impressive safety record of nearly 3,000 incident-free days of operation, describing it as a shining example of the successful alignment between Kenya's Vision 2030 and China's Belt and Road Initiative.  

"The Madaraka Express has become much more than a transportation corridor, it's a bridge of friendship that has connected communities, boosted trade, and transformed lives across Kenya," Ambassador Guo remarked during the celebrations. "This railway stands as testament to what can be achieved through strong international partnerships and shared vision for development."  

Kenya Railways officials used the occasion to highlight the SGR's transformative impact on the country's transportation landscape. Since commencing operations, the modern rail service has slashed travel time between Nairobi and Mombasa from over 12 hours to just 5 hours, while transporting millions of passengers and tonnes of cargo. The service has not only eased road congestion but also stimulated economic activity along its corridor through improved connectivity and logistics efficiency.  

Looking ahead, Kenya Railways unveiled ambitious expansion plans that will see the SGR network extended to Kisumu and eventually to the Malaba border, creating a seamless rail connection to neighboring Uganda and beyond. The organization is also implementing service upgrades including digital ticketing solutions and station modernizations to enhance passenger experience.  

As Kenya celebrates eight years of this transformative infrastructure project, the Madaraka Express continues to symbolize the nation's progress and its commitment to building a modern, integrated transport network that drives economic growth and regional integration. With its proven track record of safety, efficiency and reliability, the SGR remains a cornerstone of Kenya's infrastructure development strategy as the country moves toward realizing its Vision 2030 goals

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