SGR records 65,000 passenger drop, reduced cargo volumes

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has recorded a 65,000 passenger drop and reduced cargo volumes in the first quarter of 2024.

A report released by the Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) noted that on average, the transportation and storage sector’s real GDP registered an estimated decelerated growth of 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2024 compared to a 6.6 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of 2023.

The number of passengers transported via Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) declined by 11.0 percent from 597.5 thousand in the first quarter of 2023 to 531.7 thousand in the first quarter of 2024.

Similarly, the freight haulage via SGR declined by 17.4 percent from 1,577.9 thousand metric tonnes in the first quarter of 2023 to 1,303.3 thousand metric tonnes in the period under review.

While SGR continued to struggle with cargo and passenger volumes, KNBS noted that the revenues increased marginally. 

This could be attributed to a 50 percent ticket price hike introduced in January 2024.