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RVR rolls out electronic ticketing

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 14 – Rift Valley Railways (RVR) on Thursday announced the introduction of an electronic ticketing system for both its mainline and peri-urban commuter services countrywide.

RVR Passenger Service General Manager, James Siele confirmed that the new system would come into effect on May 1, and will be rolled out in phases starting with Nairobi on a test basis. The new developments will not allow for ticket sales inside the train.

"We are implementing a new ticketing system as part of our strategic alignment plans aimed at streamlining our service delivery to meet the current growing demand.  We will start with Nairobi on a test basis and eventually roll it out countrywide once we have fully migrated to the new system," Mr Siele said.

He added that they would also issue pre-paid travel cards on the system that will add value to the customer by allowing them to plan ahead and reduce the amount of time they spend at the terminal. It will also enable the company to adopt a more focused approach to each of its key administrative and operational functions.

"We are also focusing on enhancing our customers\’ safety, security and punctuality to ensure that our services remain competitive.  With the new ticketing system we will permanently shut the doors to the right side of the coaches when train is travelling southwards for ease of traffic management," he said.

For ease of travel, all halts will be clearly marked once the new coach entrance plans have been finalised.

Registration for the travel card commences on April 18.  An activation fee of Sh250 will be charged on registration but commuters may redeem the cost as travel fare. The cards will be issued three weeks after registration.

RVR increased the frequency of its daily passenger train services and introduced the Nairobi CBD – Athi-River with a halt at Kitengela in March. The company recorded a 55 percent increase in commuter records for the same month.

To register for the smart cards, customers will have to verify their details including Name and ID/Passport number with a copy of their national ID card, national passport, military ID card or driver\’s license.

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Optional details on the registration forms include: Date of birth, postal address, town and country of residence, phone number, as well as email address.

The activation fee is redeemable as travel fare to any commuter destination on the timetable. And the cards will not expire.

Rift Valley Railways (RVR) is the Kenya-Uganda concessionaire operating freight and passenger rail services in Kenya and Uganda on an exclusive basis.

 The company was founded in 2006 and has been granted a 25-year mandate to operate railway services on 2,000 kilometres of track linking the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa in Kenya with the interiors of both Kenya and Uganda, including Kampala.

RVR is owned by the following shareholders; Citadel Capital through 100 percent owned subsidiary Ambiance Ventures (51 percent); TransCentury through 100 percent owned subsidiary Safari Rail Limited (34 percent) and Bomi Holdings (15 percent).

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