Fare for New Nairobi CBD-JKIA Express Train Service Slashed by Half to Sh250

Kenya Railways has slashed by half the fare of the new express rail service to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from Nairobi CBD.

During the launch of the new service on December 7th, the agency announced commuters would be charged Sh500 for the 20-minute trip. 

But in a move aimed at attracting more travelers, Kenya Railways has been forced to reduce the ticket price by 50 percent to Sh250.

“It’s a promotional fare. It will run for a period of three months after which we will review the rates,” said Kenya Railways managing-director Philip Mainga.

Under the new rail service, passengers heading to JKIA board Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) at Nairobi Central Railway Station and alight at Embakasi Village Station from where they take BRT buses to the airport.

The buses access the airport through the refurbished Airport South Road which was opened only for BRT buses. 

The move is expected to shorten the time taken by travelers to commute from JKIA to the city center via Mombasa Road and vice versa.

Kenya Railways said the entire journey will take less than 30 minutes compared to more than one hour it currently takes via road.

The first DMU leaves the city center at 5.45 am daily and arrive at Embakasi Village station at 6.10 am. Passengers will then board a bus which will depart at 6.20 am and arrive at JKIA at 6.35 am.

The mid-morning train leaves Nairobi CDD at 11 am and reaches Embakasi Village station at 11:25 am with the BRT bus arriving at the airport at 11:50 am.

The evening DMU departs the CBD at 8.00 pm and arrive at Embakasi Village at 8:25 pm. A BRT bus will leave the terminus at 8:35 pm and get to JKIA at 9:00 pm.