Editing Transport in Kenya (section)

== Railways ==
{{update|section|date=June 2018}}
{{main|Rail transport in Kenya|Kenya Railways Corporation}}

''Total:'' {{convert|2066|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}

''{{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}}:'' 2,066&nbsp;km

The former [[Uganda Railway]], was run by the company [[East African Railways and Harbours Corporation|East African Railways]]. It jointly served the present countries of [[Uganda]], [[Tanzania]] and [[Kenya]]. Since the dissolution of the EAR corporation in 1977, the national company [[Kenya Railways]] Corporation runs the former Uganda Railway and its branches in Kenya. The most important line in the country runs between the port of [[Mombasa]] and [[Nairobi]], sleeping car accommodation is offered for tourists.

In 2006, the [[Rift Valley Railways Consortium]] led by South African companies took over the operation of the Kenyan and Ugandan railway network on a contract lasting 25 years, with the opportunity of renewal. After criticism from the Kenya Railways Corporation, RVR doubled the frequency of service, and also imposed restrictions to reduce train derailments caused by the ageing infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=112096 |title=Infrastructure |publisher= EngineeringNews.co.za |access-date= 2 May 2011}}</ref>

RVR run passenger trains within Kenya only, primarily from [[Nairobi]] to [[Mombasa]] but also to local towns such as [[Kisumu]]. Passenger services on these lines are offered on peak periods only. Freight services are the bulk of RVR's operations.

In 2008, agreements were made with Uganda about gauge standardisation.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/more-investors-sought-for-kenya-uganda-railway-system-following-failure-of-rvr/ |title=More investors sought for Kenya-Uganda Railway system following failure of RVR | work= African Press International |publisher= wordpress.com |date=5 October 2008 |access-date=2 May 2011}}</ref>

In 2011, Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding with the [[China Road and Bridge Corporation]] to build the [[Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway]] (SGR). Financing for the {{US$|3.6 billion}} project was finalised in May 2014, with the [[Exim Bank of China]] extending a loan for 90% of the project cost, and the remaining 10% coming from the Kenyan government.<ref name="nation2014">{{cite news|title=Kenya, China sign standard gauge railway agreement|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/news/East-Africa-China-Standard-Gauge-Railway/1056-2310836-vvl2cjz/index.html|work=Daily Nation|date=11 May 2014|language=en-UK}}</ref> Passenger service on the SGR was inaugurated on 31 May 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kenya opens Nairobi-Mombasa Madaraka Express railway|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-40092600|publisher=BBC News|date=31 May 2017}}</ref> Work to extend the SGR to [[Suswa]] is complete.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kenyan President launches SGR Phase 2A construction|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/infrastructure/single-view/view/kenyan-president-launches-sgr-phase-2a-construction.html|work=Railway Gazette|date=20 October 2016|language=en}}</ref> The SGR program is intended to replace the old, inefficient [[metre-gauge]] railway system.<ref name="1R">{{cite web| url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/china-railway-link-kenya-uganda-rwanda-burundi-south-sudan-1448216 |title=China Railway to Link Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=17 September 2018 |first=Jack |last=Moore | newspaper=[[International Business Times]] | location=New York City}}</ref>

The first segment of the SGR, between Mombasa and Nairobi, opened passenger rail service in June 2017, and freight rail service in January 2018.<ref name="2R">{{cite web|date=8 June 2017 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40171095 |title=Will Kenya get value for money from its new railway? |access-date=17 September 2018 |publisher=[[BBC|BBC Africa]] |first=Nancy | last=Kacungira |location=Nairobi}}</ref><ref name="3R">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/15/africa/kenya-railway-east-africa/index.html |title=Kenya's $13 billion railway project is taking shape |access-date=18 September 2018 |date=15 May 2016 |
publisher=[[Cable News Network]] (CNN) |first=Phoebe | last=Parke}}</ref>

=== Railway links with adjacent countries ===
;African Great Lakes
* {{flagicon|South Sudan}} [[Rail transport in South Sudan|South Sudan]] – none – proposed link to [[Juba]] (2005) [[break-of-gauge]] {{RailGauge|1000mm}}/{{RailGauge|1067mm}}
* {{flagicon|Tanzania}} [[Transport in Tanzania|Tanzania]] – same {{RailGauge|1000mm}} gauge – maybe defunct
* {{flagicon|Uganda}} [[Transport in Uganda|Uganda]] – yes – same gauge – {{RailGauge|1000mm}}