On Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the new SGR services that will see Kenyans commute easily between Ngong and Nairobi by the use of a train.
The launch of the new service has sent chills down the spines of public service vehicle (PSV) owners who now feel Kenyans will abandon using their cars for SGR.
The train will be plying Ngong, Rongai, and Nairobi route on a daily basis between Monday and Friday.
Those in Ngong coming to Nairobi will be parting with 100 shillings in the Economy class and 200 shillings for those who would want to use First Class.
Coming from Rongai to Nairobi will cost one 100 shillings in the Economy class and 200 shillings for those who will opt to use the First Class.
Ngong to Rongai will cost a passenger 50 shillings in the economy class and 100 shillings in the First Class while Ronga to Suswa will see one parting with 100 shillings in the Economy class and 500 shillings in the First Class.
Those who will be traveling from Nairobi to Suswa will pay 200 shillings in the Economy Class and 650 shillings in the First Class.
Compared to Matatus, the SGR train is faster and is expected to cut on the amount of time people spend on the road by more than 150 percent. For instance, it will take one 13 minutes to travel between Ngong and Ronga by use of a train and 40 minutes to travel between Ngong and Nairobi.
The first train will be departing Ngong Terminus at 5:40 in the morning, expected to arrive at Rongai Terminus at 5:53 and Nairobi at 6:20. Kenyans have already warmed up to the news but waiting to see the impact this will have on the Matatu sector within the city.
Already demonstrations are rocking the coastal city of Mombasa over the government’s decision to have all cargo that passes through the Port of Mombasa to be transported via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Nairobi.
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