The Standard yesterday, January 29, 2013 posted that Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) had quietly halved fares and scrapped all the daytime frequencies of the Syokimau commuter train service after its strategy targeting the middle class hit a snag.

According to the post, fare for a one way ticket between Syokimau and the Central Business District (CBD) had dropped to KES 50 from KES 110 while fare for return ticket at peak times has dropped to KES 100 from KES 220.

The train schedule has also been changed with commuter train now doing the 7.05am and 9.40am peak and off peak services from Syokimau to Nairobi and in the evening doing the 5.50pm and 7.45pm peak and off peak services from Nairobi to Syokimau.

Based on these new developments, we beg the question, would using the commuter train make sense now?

According to a press release issued by KRC fuel and parking costs incurred by those driving into the CBD stands at KES 450. Assuming one buys a City Council of Nairobi parking ticket at KES 140, it would mean they spend KES 310 on fuel alone.

Parking and two way ticket using the commuter train costs KES 200. Comparing the two, motorists stand to save KES 250 each day using the rail as compared to using the road.

According to the Daily Nation some motorists spend approximately KES 600 to fuel, park and pay for wear and tear on a vehicle driving into the city centre every day. Comparing this cost to what state corporation charges for parking and two way ticket, motorists stand to save KES 400 each day using the rail as compared to using the road.

Another advantage the commuter train has over driving into Nairobi is the elimination of having to spend time and fuel searching for parking space. According to propertykenya.com, at ten o’clock in the morning motorists spend several minutes, it not hours, on end in search of parking space in the Nairobi’s CBD.

Syokimau Railway Station has 3,000 parking spaces. If you want to leave your car at home but still use the train, you will soon be able to catch Public Service Vehicles (PSV) that will drop you railway station. Kenya Railways will soon partner with selected PSV operators to provide Rail Connect Services to deliver passengers to Syokimau among other areas. Similar services will be provided from Nairobi Central Station to various areas in the city such as Upperhill, Westlands and Hurlingham.

The main disadvantage to motorists that stands out is the limiting train schedule drives will be restricted to. This is in fact  made worse by scrapping off of all daytime frequencies of the Syokimau commuter train service. This means if you plan to leave the CBD in the evening you only have the option of catching the 5.50pm or 7.45pm train.

Kinda restrictive innit?

Viewing the charges from the average commuter who depends on public transportation perspective, the recent reduced fares have made the commuter train service more affordable as compared to what was being charged before. A KES 50 one way train ticket fare is more or less competitive and at times cheaper as compared to what’s being charged by Public Service Vehicles (PSV). Matatu’s approximately charge KES 50 to KES 70 with a high likelihood of fares rising to as high as KES 100 during peak hours.

There’s also the time saving aspect which comes with using the train shared by both motorists and commuters. As opposed to getting stuck in traffic for hours, the commuter train will only take you approximately 30 minutes to travel into Nairobi or back to Syokimau.

Maybe it makes a little more sense now.