The first train of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) arrives at Nairobi Terminus in Nairobi, Kenya, May 31, 2017. Kenya has now found a new lifeline in the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) since its launch on May 31, 2017. Data from Afristar, the SGR operator, show the modern railway has transported more than 7.7 million passengers in the last five years. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)
NAIROBI, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on Wednesday.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) said the Chinese-built train carried the highest number of passengers -- two million -- in 2021, with 2018 coming second at 1.67 million.
The train ferried 699,055 passengers in 2017, 1.59 million passengers in 2019, and 1.29 million passengers in 2020, said KNBS.
The Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU) told journalists in Nairobi that millions of passengers using the SGR is a display of popularity of the train dubbed Madaraka Express.
"The train has reduced travel time for passengers from Nairobi to Mombasa from an average of 10 hours to only five," said the PSCU on Wednesday in a brief on government projects. ■
Kenyans sing and dance beside one of the first batch of locomotives for the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Mombasa, Kenya, Jan. 11, 2017. Kenya has now found a new lifeline in the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) since its launch on May 31, 2017. Data from Afristar, the SGR operator, show the modern railway has transported more than 7.7 million passengers in the last five years. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
Passengers take a train from Nairobi to Mombasa along the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kenya, June 9, 2017. Kenya has now found a new lifeline in the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) since its launch on May 31, 2017. Data from Afristar, the SGR operator, show the modern railway has transported more than 7.7 million passengers in the last five years. (Xinhua/Li Baishun)
People leave Nairobi Station after getting off the train of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 17, 2021. Kenya has now found a new lifeline in the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) since its launch on May 31, 2017. Data from Afristar, the SGR operator, show the modern railway has transported more than 7.7 million passengers in the last five years. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)
Guests attend the launching ceremony at Nairobi Terminus of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kenya, Nov. 1, 2017. Kenya has now found a new lifeline in the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) since its launch on May 31, 2017. Data from Afristar, the SGR operator, show the modern railway has transported more than 7.7 million passengers in the last five years. (Xinhua/Lyu Shuai)
Staff members guide as a passenger passes a fare gate at Mombasa Terminus of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kenya, June 1, 2017. Kenya has now found a new lifeline in the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) since its launch on May 31, 2017. Data from Afristar, the SGR operator, show the modern railway has transported more than 7.7 million passengers in the last five years. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei)
People board a train of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) at Ngong Station in Kenya, March 25, 2022. Kenya has now found a new lifeline in the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) since its launch on May 31, 2017. Data from Afristar, the SGR operator, show the modern railway has transported more than 7.7 million passengers in the last five years. (Xinhua/Long Lei)
Members of the cohort of independent Kenyan locomotive drivers work in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 19, 2022. The standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on July 6, 2022. (Xinhua)
Members of the first cohort of independent Kenyan locomotive drivers pose for a group photo in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 19, 2022. The standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on July 6, 2022. (Xinhua)
Female train driver Concilia (C), Alice (L) and Chinese instructor Tu Zhuxin gesture before the operation of the standard gauge railway (SGR) in Mombasa, Kenya, on May 31, 2017. The SGR passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on July 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
A Kenyan driver prepares to launch the train at Nairobi station of Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway (SGR) in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 17, 2021. The SGR passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on July 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)
Kenyan drivers John Pius (L) and Brian Kemboi confirm safety with platform staff in Kajiado, Kenya, March 25, 2022. The standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on July 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Long Lei)
Chinese and Kenyan drivers drive a train out of the Mombasa Railway Station in Mombasa, Kenya, on June 1, 2018. The standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on July 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
Chinese instructor Yang Ming (L) and his Kenyan female apprentice Concilia inspect the locomotive in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 22, 2021. The standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on July 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yan)
Train drivers Concilia, Wendy, Caroline (from L to R) follow the operating procedures with their Chinese instructor Zhang Cheng during training in Nairobi, Kenya, May 17, 2017, before the operation of Kenya's Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway (SGR). The SGR passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on July 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
Chinese and Kenyan drivers prepare to launch the train at Nairobi station of Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway (SGR) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Nov. 17, 2021. The SGR passenger train has moved some 7.78 million passengers between the capital, Nairobi and Mombasa since its inception in June 2017, a national statistics agency said in a report released on July 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)
