Revival
of the passenger train along the Nairobi Nairobi line is a reminder of the once
vibrant tourism sectors behind the various market centres.
During the festive
season, ferrying over 4,500 holiday makers to their destinations between Nyeri
and Nanyuki towns an indication that the railway service would re-wake the state
of the markets that folded after the service was withdrawn.
Increase
of the couches to Nanyuki by Kenya Railways Corporation during the Xmas seasons
increased flooding of passengers in Nanyuki town and its environs following the
reduced transport cost of Sh200 from Nairobi.
Golden Palm Hotel at Kenol received visitors who alighted at Mitumbiri
and Makuyu railway stations in the festive season.
Nanyuki railway station was turned into a busy
business hub as 1,500 passengers alighted
destined to their homes and
nearby hotels and improved domestic tourism around Mt Kenya circuit.
Peter
Karomo, a trader in Nanyuki town, said he made profit following the influx of
visitors.
“
The small scale traders had their day as they sold their stock to the visiting
population, while the hoteliers accommodated them and fed them,” said Karomo.
Taxis drivers, Jamleck Nguchu said, operated from the railway station to town,
and directed the visitors to hotels
depending on their status.
“
The return of the railway service was God sent, after the taxi business had been
affected by Covid 19 pandemic that restricted movement,” said Nguchu who
operates from Narumoru town.
The management of KR teamed up with Laikipia
County Government to support the return of the passenger train after the
completion of the rehabilitation of the 240 kilometres line, by National Youth Service
and Kenya Defence Force.
The rehabilitation work was supervised by
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia following President Uhuru Kenyatta orders, on
the need to transform Central Kenya through the railway line.
A destination for holiday makers in Laikipia county
In the rehabilitation
work funded by the Kenya Pipeline, test runs were conducted through transportation
of petroleum products from Nairobi to Vivo Depot in Nanyuki industrial park.
Governor Ndiritu Muriithi on his part said the
return of the railway transport has been an agenda by the region leaders to facilitate
cheap transport means for farm produce and livestock to the market.
In
the past, coffee from Meru he said was transported by the railway line to the
defunct KPCU milling plants in Sagana or Dandora in Nairobi.
“ The return of cargo
transport will lead to increased job opportunities for the youth in the region,” said Muriithi.
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