Recently Relaunched Nairobi-Kisumu Commuter Train Stalls for Hours After Wagon Derails

Passengers were stranded for hours on Tuesday evening after the recently re-launched Nairobi-Kisumu commuter train stalled.

The train stalled at the Tamu area in Muhoroni, Kisumu County after one of its wagons derailed as it negotiated a corner at around 5.00 pm.

Confirming the incident, Muhoroni Deputy Sub-County Police Commander Zaphania Kamuren said engineers from Kenya Railways were headed to the scene to return the detailed wagon back on track.

The police commander termed the incident as minor, saying raised ballast on the rail caused the wagon to derail.

"It is true one of the wagons derailed and efforts are underway to get it back on track," said Kamuren.

The Standard reported that by 8.00 pm, railway engineers were still trying to return the wagon back on the rail. By 9:30 pm, the derailed coach had been put back on track.

212 passengers were aboard the train that was making its second trip to Kisumu after rail services resumed in the route on Friday following the rehabilitation of the century-old meter gauge rail line.

Commuters are charged Sh600 fare on second class coaches from Nairobi to Kisumu and Sh2,000 on first class for the 12-hour journey. The train operates between 6.0 am and 6.45 pm with a stopover in Nakuru.