Factors Affecting The Development Of Nairobi Metropolitan Rail Network

Abstract

Rail transport is the second most important mode of transport in Kenya, after road transport, for both freight and passenger services. The problem of the study was that there is inadequate development of railway network in Kenya, specifically lack of legal framework to development a metropolitan railway system amidst the transportation problem in the city of Nairobi. This thesis presents an analysis of Nairobi metropolitan commuter rail system to define the principles involved. The analysis involves analyzing the status of the operations of the existing commuter rail transit network in terms of accessibility to passengers, routing and convenience and the underlying limitations; determination of the factors affecting development of the Nairobi metropolitan rail system with a view to proposing a sustainable approach to delivery of an effective metropolitan mass transit rail network in Nairobi city and its environs in terms of spatial convenience and accessibility to passenger traffic. The methodology for the study included both secondary and primary sources. Secondary sources included review of existing literature on metropolitan commuter rail development with a few case studies from both developed and developing countries. Primary data was collected through field survey; administering of questionnaires; observations and interviews. Data analysis was done through statistical, descriptive and geo-spatial analyses. The study found that the Kenya railway Corporation (KRC) has limited experience about improvement of urban railways. The study further concludes that the resources for rail improvement are scarce, and maintenance and management of the work done are hardly enough. In other words, the knowledge and the know-how required for improvement, maintenance and expansion of urban railways have not been acquired adequately. The study recommended the need for KRC to take cognizant of the major changes in the world that present opportunities for the railway industry to play a positive role in national development.