Kenya Railways Introduces Night Nairobi-Mombasa SGR Commuter Trains

Kenya Railways has temporarily introduced the third pair of commuter trains on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) between Nairobi and Mombasa.

The additional trains will operate at night this week to complement the demand for travel as schools reopen across the country, according to Kenya Railways managing director Philip Mainga.

The Madaraka Express night trains will depart both ends of the line in Nairobi and Mombasa at 9 pm and end the journey at 3 am.

“We are running this service because of the boom in passengers from the schools reopening with the aim of supporting parents, teachers, and students moving from different locations. Airports and matatus have been overwhelmed,” said Mainga.

Mainga indicated that passengers traveling on the night trains will be allowed to disembark from stations during curfew hours to other destinations upon the proof of ticketing.

“For as long as one has their ticket, there shouldn’t be a challenge in connecting. For Nairobi, we have no challenge as we have a commuter train which will bring passengers into the Central Business District at around 4 am,” he added.

The pair of night trains will make stopovers at different termini along the line including Mtito Andei, Voi, Emali, Kibwezi, and Mariakani.

Kenya Railways said demand will determine whether the night service will become a permanent feature.

The corporation has been operating two pairs of trains between the two cities with journeys starting at 8 am and ending at 3 pm.