The commissioning of the Chinese-built first phase of Kenya's standard-gauge railway connecting Nairobi and Mombasa is a key milestone for the contractor, China Road and Bridge Corp.

The company has not only delivered quality work to the Kenyan government but has done it six months ahead of schedule. Passengers on the train's test and inaugural run shave applauded its speed and smooth ride. However, it's not yet party time for the contractor, a senior official says.

Lu Shan, the company's chairman says the goal of seeing the company operate successfully - meaning recording profits - keeps the contractor's senior officials burning the midnight oil. He says successful operation of the railway will consequently bring in economic returns, which were the basis of the project.

"Even though we have high expectations of the SGR project, we will have to confront the big challenges of its operation. Our desire is to see safe operation of the railway, serving the interests of both the government and the local people," he says.

Lu says the railway is expected to start making economic returns within the next two to three years.

"We believe there will be increased demand for transportation through the railway, probably because of the speed and the low cost compared with other available means of transport," he says.

According to the government's rail authority, fares for the passenger train's economy class will be 900 Kenyan Shillings ($8.7; 7.76 euros; ￡6.76) while first class will be 3,000 Kenyan Shillings. The train is expected to take four and half hours to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa at a speed of 100 to 120 kilometers per hour.

This is cheaper than buses, whose fares range between $14.50 and $19.30, for the seven-to eight-hour trip from Nairobi to Mombasa.

Lu, however, notes that management of the project will be a key factor inits economic viability. To that end, Lu says, CRBC will work in collaboration with the Kenya Railways Authority to meet the project's goals.

Lu says they are working on localization of operations of the SGR to ensure that they have adequate qualified personnel.

"The railway belongs to Kenyans, so it will be more interesting if they operate it themselves. Additionally, localization reduces costs," Lu says.

To ensure provision of adequate qualified personnel, Lu says CRBC is offering full scholarships to 100 Kenyan students in three groups for four years of undergraduate studies in China.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 06/02/2017 page16)