The Syokimau train station. [Photo/businessdailyafrica.com]Passenger bus companies have revealed that they are experiencing low business after the launch of the Madaraka Express services two weeks ago.Mash Bus Company General Manager Lennox Shalo says morning passenger traffic had reduced, but added that they were trying to cope with the situation.“At times buses, especially those leaving in the morning, depart with 25 passengers instead of the normal 42. But the evening schedule has not been affected,” he said on Wednesday, as reported by Business Daily.He said they were planning to launch services in new routes.The reduction in the morning schedules is more than 50 per cent and the bus companies are expected to be hit harder when Kenya Railways launches two more trains between Mombasa and Nairobi.Since it was launched, Madaraka Express has transported at least 10,000 passengers.This means with a bus carrying 42 passengers, the companies have been robbed of 238 bus loads, or nearly Sh10 million in revenue assuming the fare averages Sh1,000.“We are not against the train services and we know Kenyans have embraced it but we are still studying the business environment before we decide what to do."Our immediate plan is to get innovative by expanding our services to new routes,” Shalo said.He, however, asked the government to allow fair competition to ensure their businesses were not seriously affected.

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