Kenya’s modern railway transports 2.31 mln tons of cargo between January and May

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Kenya’s standard gauge railway cargo train hauled 2.31 million tons of cargo in the first five months this year, an increase of about 45 percent from the similar period in 2020, according to data released on Thursday from the Kenya Railways Corporation.

The increase points to increased demand for the service that has increased efficiency in transportation of cargo.

During the period, most of the cargo was hauled in March, when 507,924 tons were transported followed by April at 460,787 tons, according to the corporation.

The rise in cargo volumes saw an increase in revenue generated during the months to 6.2 billion shillings (about 57 million U.S. dollars), up from 41.4 million dollars generated from January to May in 2020, it said.

The number of passengers using the train during the first five months of 2021 nearly doubled amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Some 601,201 passengers were ferried between the capital Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa during the period, up from 330,232 in 2020 when the country grappled with COVID-19 pandemic, the corporation said.

This generated revenue of 5.9 million dollars, up from 3.3 million dollars generated between January and May in 2020.

*****

Xinhua