SGR Announces New Changes For Mombasa Route Till February
Kenyans contemplating a trip to Mombasa this holiday season may be forced to explore alternative modes of transportation.
This comes after the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) administration confirmed that all premium class passenger trains are fully booked through February 2026.
In a press event on Thursday, October 13, SGR Managing Director Philip Mainga stated that the overwhelming number of individuals wishing to travel to the coast via SGR will require the company to seek additional coaches, particularly in the luxury class.
Furthermore, Mainga stated that management will explore providing special trains to take visitors to the shore during the holiday season.
It will be identical to the one that took Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members to Mombasa to commemorate their 20th anniversary.
“The demand for this premium class is high, so we are now going to order more coaches and equipment to ensure that everyone is accommodated. And for your information, we are booked until February,” Mainga said.
“We are fully booked for Christmas; we do not have any seats, but we are willing to run special trains and ensure that Kenyans go to Mombasa and enjoy themselves and come back,” he added.
This is not the first time the SGR would be obliged to make such a change to facilitate travel between Nairobi and Mombasa over the holiday season.
Kenya Railways stated last year that a special SGR train would operate along the Nairobi-Mombasa route during the 2024 holiday season.
According to a statement issued by the administration on Monday, December 16, 2024, the service train, which took around six hours to go from Nairobi to Mombasa, operated a one-way route between the two cities.
“We are pleased to inform you that a special Madaraka Express passenger train will be operating on December 17, 2024, from Nairobi to Mombasa only,” the notice read.
The announcement comes days after motorists and other road users were encouraged to ensure that they observe all road signs as the country heads to the festive season, to guarantee road safety.
The holiday season, which traditionally includes more activities and social gatherings, contributes to increased travel and mishaps.
According to the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), motorists who violate these warnings will be detained by security authorities and face legal consequences.
The government stated that its engineers will take down on contractors who fail to install road signage at building sites.
SGR Announces New Changes For Mombasa Route Till February
