Trace the historical background of the Standard Gauge Railway.

The idea of a standard gauge railway, which refers to a railway track with a distance of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1/2 in) between the rails, can be traced back to the early 19th century. Prior to the standardization of railway gauges, different regions and countries had their own unique track widths, which made it difficult for trains to travel across different networks.

The concept of a standard gauge railway was first proposed by George Stephenson, a British engineer known as the "Father of Railways," in the early 1830s. Stephenson advocated for a uniform track width to be adopted by all railways to facilitate interoperability and improve efficiency in the transportation of goods and passengers.

The first standard gauge railway line was opened in England in 1844, connecting the cities of London and York. The success of this line led to the widespread adoption of the standard gauge in many countries around the world.

In the United States, the standard gauge railway was officially adopted by the federal government in 1886, following years of debate and competition between different track widths. The adoption of the standard gauge helped to streamline the country's railway network and improve connectivity between different regions.

In the 20th century, the standard gauge railway became the dominant track width for railways worldwide, with many countries converting their existing networks to the standard gauge to improve efficiency and interoperability.

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project in Kenya is a modern example of the implementation of a standard gauge railway system. The project, which was launched in 2013, aims to connect the port city of Mombasa to the capital city of Nairobi and eventually to other East African countries. The SGR is expected to improve transportation efficiency, reduce travel times, and boost economic development in the region.

19th Century: Conceptualization and Early Efforts

- 1896: British colonialists proposed a Cape-to-Cairo railway line, including a leg through Kenya.
- 1898: Construction began on the Uganda Railway (now part of the SGR).
- 1901: The Uganda Railway reached Lake Victoria.

20th Century: Progress and Challenges

- 1927: The Kenya-Uganda Railway (KUR) was established.
- 1950s-1960s: KUR expanded and modernized its network.
- 1970s-1980s: Economic challenges and political instability led to decline in rail services.

21st Century: Revival and Modernization

- 2010: Kenya and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of a new standard gauge railway (SGR).
- 2014: Construction began on the first phase of the SGR, connecting Mombasa to Nairobi.
- 2017: The Mombasa-Nairobi line was completed and opened to traffic.
- 2018: Construction began on the second phase of the SGR, extending the line to Naivasha.
- 2019: The Naivasha line was completed and commissioned.
- 2022: Construction began on the third phase of the SGR, extending the line to Kisumu.

Key Milestones:

- 2014: Commencement of SGR construction.
- 2017: Completion of Mombasa-Nairobi line.
- 2019: Completion of Naivasha line.
- 2022: Commencement of Kisumu line construction.

Current Status:

The SGR is currently operational from Mombasa to Naivasha. The Kisumu line is under construction and expected to be completed in 2025.