Uplands-Kijabe-Longonot Rail Section Clears Test Run Ahead of Freight Resumption

Kenya Railways has carried out a successful test run from Uplands Railway Station through Kijabe to Longonot, confirming the line's readiness after extensive repairs. The metre gauge corridor, which forms part of the broader network connecting Mombasa port to inland Kenya and neighbouring countries, has remained closed since April and May 2024. Heavy rainfall at the time washed away sections of track near Kijabe, halting both freight and passenger movements.

Managing Director Philip Mainga joined the test ride and described the outcome as welcome progress. "We are delighted to achieve this important milestone today. This clears the way for us to resume normal operations and continue offering safe, reliable, and efficient services to our clients," he said. The interruption slowed shipments of farm inputs, produce, steel products and containerised cargo, affecting traders across Kenya's Western region and landlocked countries including Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Freight transportation will start once additional test runs verify the track's condition. Kenya Railways reports that full track restoration has been completed, though work continues on slope protection, river training and other measures intended to guard against future flooding. These additional protections aim to make the corridor more durable during heavy rains, which have repeatedly damaged low-lying sections in the past.

With the test run now done and the remaining slope works nearing completion, preparations are advancing to bring freight trains back into service. The resumption is expected to ease pressure on highways and provide more consistent transport options for bulk cargo users.