SGR not beat a dead horse but is the project the right thing to do

[Globalcitizen12]

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In East Africa which other country has SGR line? I am told the only advantage of SGR is to be able to move passenger trains at high speed. I learn that passenger trains are not feasible for NRB to Mombasa route because for the less than the proposed ticket of 4,500 you can board a plane. For passenger railway company to be profitable GOK needs to offer subsidies to reduce the ticket to 800 shs. The other concern is that  we lack 17,000 kilo watts needed to run the rail line. That is why we have to use diesel meaning the maximum speed you can attain on SGR line is 80 MPH..

I am told that World bank suggested that Kenya upgrades the old rail at 50 billion that 0.5 million dollars a kilometer..

The SGR cost of 327 to 440 billion shillings  as proposed is way to high since it way above the cost SGR lines built elsewhere .. Only USA and a few other countries like Japan have SGR because of need for high speed passenger railway line but our comparative countries have the regular rail that they have upgraded..

The other argument against SGR is that we do not have enough cargo to support the rail capacity of 200 million metric tons. to make the current SGR to operate optimally we need to transport over 150 metric tons of cargo.. Kenya only imports 25 million tons so there will be excess capacity.

whatever the case I think I need to see the world bank report so if anyone has a copy kindly post it..

To the proponents of SGR give me your reasons of supporting this project and not support upgrading old line at cost of 50 billion to do the same job as SGR 

[RV Pundit]

Unfortunately this is water under the bridge. The SGR railway is snaking its way to Nairobi and is probably past 60% completion mark. Some of us had the same misgiving but now we realize this is self-defeatist argument.

So we first need to accept that SGR no longer has reverse gear...DONE DEAL.

Next we need to figure out how to make this project economical...while of course appreciating this huge project that will serve us for 100yrs to come..so let us hear really long term projections.

[Globalcitizen12]

what if the thing will never be economically viable? Will this be the Arusha to Lusaka Railway type of deal that is still in the red 60 years later

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

If the deal cannot be revised, then Pundit has a point.  If there are ways that it can be looked at in terms of revising cost downwards, then that should of course be something any decent government would seek to do.

[Kadudu]

I thought before starting any project that is the first thing that is done?

Next we need to figure out how to make this project economical...while of course appreciating this huge project that will serve us for 100yrs to come..so let us hear really long term projections.

[Globalcitizen12]

it was not done kadudu so Pundit says we MOVE ON

[Kadudu]

Some known guys in Kenya pocketed 10% of SGR deal. Now if you are talking of pocketing 10% of 50 billion or 10% of 440 billion, which makes more sense for a hustler?
There lies the answer to your question. The viability of the project as even Pundit here agrees is now being looked into.

I am told that World bank suggested that Kenya upgrades the old rail at 50 billion that 0.5 million dollars a kilometer..

The SGR cost of 327 to 440 billion shillings  as proposed is way to high since it way above the cost SGR lines built elsewhere .. Only USA and a few other countries like Japan have SGR because of need for high speed passenger railway line but our comparative countries have the regular rail that they have upgraded..

[RV Pundit]

Apart from lamenting about this..there is little we can do to correct the mistakes already done. We just have to hope this will be economical.

[Kadudu]

means we should hold national prayers for SGR to be viable. Kenya has a long way to go.

Apart from lamenting about this..there is little we can do to correct the mistakes already done. We just have to hope this will be economical.

[Globalcitizen12]

prayer rallies people for Reli ipate kazi.. GOK investments all end up losing tonnes of billions.. Remember Kibaki KMC, NEW KCC, KQ and commuter trains in Eastlands

[Georgesoros]

This will help ease traffic.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34867935

[Globalcitizen12]

hehe ease it will at what cost