SGR revenues fall by 9 per cent in six months

Earnings from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passenger and freight service declined by 9.2 per cent in the first half of the year to Ksh.5.9 billion.

The revenues which stood at Ksh.6.5 billion across a similar period last year were greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which in part halted services on the Madaraka Express passenger service.

The passenger service declared zero revenues across May and June to leave earnings at Ksh.356.2 million in six months from Ksh.837.2 million last year.

Freight services which were less impacted by restrictive measures to combat the virus meanwhile showed resilience to stand at Ksh.5.5 billion from Ksh.5.6 billion last year.

The SGR services lifted a total of 1.98 million tons of cargo in the six months to June from a corresponding two million tons last year and 327,093 passengers from 764,485.

Pressure is now expected to ease on earnings for the multi-billion shilling service following the ease of inter-county restrictions and an adjustment to curfew hours.

Income from passenger tickets is however expected to remain lacklustre with carriages operating at half their capacities in line with the Ministry of Health guidelines on containing the virus spread.