The Kenya Railways Corporation has announced the partial resumption of commuter train services following their suspension due to heavy rains across the country, bringing relief to stranded commuters.
In a statement released on Monday evening, Kenya Railways disclosed that commuters can expect the resumption of services on the Embakasi Village to Lukenya route as well as the SGR Link train to Syokimau.
“We are pleased to inform the public that commuter train services will resume tomorrow, Tuesday, 7th of May 2024, on the following routes: Embakasi Village, Lukenya, The SGR Link train, and Syokimau,” the statement read.
However, commuters on the Limuru and Ruiru routes will have to wait longer for normal services as these routes remain suspended due to ongoing repair works on the railway lines caused by heavy rains.
“Please note that commuter services for Limuru and Ruiru remain suspended due to ongoing track repair works on those lines. We also wish to advise the public that commuter train services are subject to change at short notice, depending on weather conditions and other safety considerations,” the statement added.
Last month, Kenya Railways had to halt all commuter train services due to flooding in various parts of Nairobi, leaving thousands of city dwellers stranded.
The suspension was necessitated by large sections of the track being submerged under water.
The resumption of train services comes amidst continued disruptions caused by heavy rainfall in various parts of the country, affecting traffic on major routes, including highways and airports.
The excessive rainfall has resulted in river and sewer overflow, transforming roads into waterways and causing devastation to homes.
The ongoing flood crisis has led to significant loss of life and property, with over 228 people reported dead and thousands injured or displaced from their homes.
President William Ruto, in his recent State of the Nation address, announced the postponement of school reopening until further notice due to the adverse effects of the floods.
Schools, which were initially scheduled to reopen on May 6 after a previous postponement from April 29, will remain closed until the situation improves.
The Interior Ministry has highlighted severe impacts in numerous counties across the country, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to address the flood crisis and its aftermath.
