{UAH} Kampala Director visits RVR centre

Kampala Director visits RVR centre

ABSORBED: Wapakhabulo and Musisi get first hand knowledge of how the Nairobi system works.

NAIROBI, Kenya - Uganda's Kampala Capital City Authority Executive Director, Jennifer Musisi was recently hosted by Rift Valley Railways (RVR) in the run-up to reintroducing commuter train services in Kampala after a 20-year writes JOHN SAMBO.

Accompanying her in Nairobi, was Angelina Wapakhabulo, the Uganda High Commkissioner to Kenya.

"We have been working towards introducing commuter services as part of an integrated transport master plan aimed at reducing pressure on Kampala's city roads and highways leading directly to the city," she said in between touring RVR installations including Syokimau station. 

Musisi said she was encouraged by the fast growth of Kenya's commuter service, adding that Kampala was keen to reintroduce rail services in an effort to decongest the roads and provide alternative mode of passenger transport services. 

She said, "Uganda has waited a long time for this experience after 20 years making this engagement a good step in the right direction as we move to reorganize the transport sector. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to implement this initiative as seen through our partnership with Rift Valley Railways."  

"We hope to start running the train service by the end of March and later expand to the rest of the country. Our target is to transport 270 daily passengers during the first phase." she said.

In Nairobi RVR has increased frequency of its commuter services by introducing new routes and enhancing frequencies even as the company strives to cope with the growing demand for commuter rail services in the city.

According RVR Group CEO, Carlos Andrade, 400,000 passengers use commuter railway transport monthly in Kenya. He said that an efficient commuter railway transport system was the most feasible and cost effective way of easing congestion in growing cities.

"We are restoring the track to improve track stability and help achieve efficiency. We are also in the process of acquiring more locomotives to substantially increase its freight haulage capacity in Kenya and Uganda," Andrade said.

By John Sambo, Sunday, March 08th, 2015

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

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