The government has announced the revival of the historic Ol Kalou Railway Station after nearly 46 years of inactivity.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 14, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the station resumed operations in June 2026. He said this marked the restart of railway services along the 78-kilometer Gilgil–Ol Kalou–Nyahururu Meter Gauge Railway branch line after more than 4 decades.
A Line Built in 1929, Idle Since 1980
Omollo explained that the line originally supported the movement of agricultural produce, but it later fell into neglect as road transport expanded and maintenance deteriorated. He said the colonial administration built the line and commissioned it in 1929 to haul farm produce.
Over time, changing economic priorities, insufficient maintenance, and stiff competition from road transport pushed the route into disuse. He added that services stopped completely by 1980, leaving the corridor idle for decades.
Kenya Railways and KDF Partnership Behind the Restoration
Omollo said Kenya Railways restored the line through a partnership with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Engineering Brigade.
He noted that rehabilitation works started in August 2020, but President William Ruto’s administration completed the financing, operationalization, and eventual relaunch of the railway.
“While rehabilitation works commenced in August 2020, the financing, operationalisation and eventual relaunch of the line were concluded under the administration of President William Ruto, reaffirming the government’s commitment to revitalizing strategic transport infrastructure and unlocking economic opportunities in agricultural regions,” he said.
Promise fulfilled pic.twitter.com/Dun4Hj5hEJ
— Dr. Raymond Omollo — CBS (@ray_omollo) July 14, 2026
Passenger and Freight Services Now Running
Omollo said the revived railway now handles both passenger and freight services, reconnecting Nairobi with Ol Kalou and Nyahururu. He added that a dedicated rail siding at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Ol Kalou now supports the movement of subsidized farm inputs, making the corridor an important link for both transport and agriculture.
“Today, the revived corridor supports both passenger and freight services. The Nyahururu Safari Train, popularly known as the Thompson Train, now links Nairobi with Ol Kalou and Nyahururu, with a separate rail siding serving the NCPB Ol Kalou Depot, facilitates the movement of subsidised farm inputs,” he said.
The latest development comes just over a month after Kenya Railways announced the revival of freight operations along the Gilgil-Nyahururu branch line.
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