NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 30 – Kenya Railways has launched a vehicle transport service on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), allowing car dealers, importers and other businesses to move vehicles between Mombasa and Nairobi, with onward connections to Naivasha.

The first consignment arrived at the Nairobi Inland Container Depot on Friday in partnership with vehicle dealer Autobarn East Africa.

Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga said the corporation had been conducting trials since last year and was now inviting more motor vehicle dealers, importers and clearing agents to use the service.

The vehicles are transported in specialised wagons, each carrying up to six cars. Autobarn plans to move about 700 vehicles a month from Mombasa to Nairobi.

Mainga said the rail service would offer an alternative to road transport, with the journey taking about eight hours compared to more than a day by road.

He said the service would also reduce the risk of vehicles arriving with dirt or dents associated with road transport.

Kenya Railways is targeting vehicle traders in neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania.

The service will also allow holidaymakers travelling between Nairobi, Naivasha and Mombasa to transport their personal vehicles by train and collect them at their destination. They can also use the service for return journeys.

Mainga said the option could help reduce fatigue-related road accidents by allowing motorists to avoid long-distance driving.