Kenya Railways is adjusting the Madaraka Express Passenger Service and adding a new link train for travellers to and from Mombasa. The train link project in Mombasa was set to be completed by May 31, 2024.
The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to the Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) link connects the Mombasa Central Railway Station within Mombasa CBD to the SGR Mombasa Terminus in Miritini. This connection has long been a challenge for many commuters.
In a notice issued on Wednesday, Kenya Railways announced that construction of the railway link is nearing completion and will be opened soon. The project was initially expected to be completed nine months ago but has faced delays.
“We are looking to operationalise the Link train for Mombasa County soon. Once operational, residents, tourists, and train enthusiasts travelling to Mombasa will be able to use the Link train. This train will ease access not only to Mombasa Terminus and Mombasa CBD but also to the areas in between these destinations,” said Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga.
Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar inspecting a foldout tray table in the new economy SGR train.
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Kenya Railways
This service is similar to the train link operating between Nairobi Central Station and Nairobi Terminus.
The new train link features a new Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) passenger station at Mombasa Terminus, with stops at Miritini, Changamwe West, Changamwe East, Shimanzi, and Mombasa Central Station. The entire link spans 17 kilometres.
The project has faced delays primarily due to challenges in land acquisition. Since its commencement in September 2022, securing the necessary land has been a significant hurdle, stalling progress at approximately 65 per cent completion.
To resolve this, the government has allocated Ksh 1.1 billion for land compensation to facilitate the rehabilitation of the Mombasa Metre Gauge Railway to Miritini. The compensation process is expected to begin soon.
The project is estimated to cost Ksh 4.2 billion. This budget covers the construction of a new Metre Gauge Railway from Miritini Station, its connection to the existing railway, and the rehabilitation of the old MGR to ensure seamless travel from Miritini Station to Mombasa Island.
“The project that is set to come into operation in the near future is at an advanced stage of construction,” Mainga asserted. The improvement comes as Kenya Railways tries to get a handle on the drop in SGR passengers.
In November last year, data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) disclosed that the number of passengers travelling by SGR declined by 105,782 from 281,683 in August to 175,901 in September 2024.
The significant decline in the number of passengers resulted in a drop in the revenue by Ksh144 million from Ksh440.6 million to Ksh296.4 million during the same period.
Overall, the government parastatal recorded a drop of 171,803 in the number of passengers between January and September this year compared to the same period last year when SGR recorded 1,779,134 passengers who used the services.
Part of the Standard Gauge Railway to the Meter Gauge Railway under construction, Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
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Kenya Railways