PHOTOS: Second batch of the SGR passenger train docks at port of Mombasa
The second batch of the Standard Gauge Railway passenger and freight locomotives docked at the port of Mombasa on Saturday.
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The new batch brings the total number of locomotives received so far to 10, two weeks ago the first batch of six locomotives docked at the port of Mombasa.
The country is expecting to 56 locomotives before June 1 at the cost of $3.8bn (Sh327 billion).
Mombasa port was a bee hive of activity as government officials and journalists watched as the two passenger and two freight locomotives were being offloaded.
Kenya Railways Corporation managing director, Atanas Maina later on opened one of the 32 coaches for viewing by journalists.
"The delivery of these locomotives will give us more time to test the engines as well as the line as we prepare for the commissioning," Maina said as quoted by a local daily.
The SGR passenger coaches comes with many facilities including Wi- Fi hotspots, power sockets for passengers to charge their electronic devices as well as rotating seats to aid conversation among other social amenities like kitchen and washrooms.
A retractable table to place your laptop or have your meal while onboard is also available.
The carriages, which will have the first and economy class, the first class, will have a capacity of 72 passengers while the economy class will carry 118 people, according to the KRC MD.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officially launch the SGR operations on May 31, according to the Transport Ministry.
The 6,000 litre diesel-powered passenger locomotives can run at a top speed of 158 kilometres per hour.
while the 9,000 litre diesel-powered freight locomotives, which can have an overall length of 220 metres can move at a top speed of 100 kilometres per hour.
The locomotives were manufactured by China Road and Bridge Corporation, one of the major diesel locomotive makers in China.
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