Kenya Railways has announced additional Madaraka Express trains to accommodate the increased passenger demand during this period.
In a notice on Thursday, Kenya Railways Managing Director said the additional trains will run on Friday, November 14, 2025, and Saturday, November 15, 2025.
On November 14, the train will depart from Mombasa at 09:45 hours, arrive at Voi at 11:21 hours, depart from Voi at 11:26 hours, and reach Nairobi at 15:48 hours.
On the other hand, the train will on November 15, leave Nairobi at 09:45 hours, arrive at Voi at 13:35 hours, depart Voi at 13:40 hours, and arrive in Mombasa at 15:36 hrs.
The Madaraka Express passenger train provides a swift connection between Mombasa and Suswa, making stops at several key stations along the way.
The route covers Mombasa Terminus, Mariakani, Miasenyi, Voi, Mtito Andei, Kibwezi, Emali, Athi River, Nairobi Terminus, Ongata Rongai, Ngong, Maai Mahiu, and finally Suswa.
How to book Madaraka Express tickets
Passengers can book tickets through three main channels. First, online bookings can be made at https://metickets.krc.co.ke. One can also use the USSD code *639# on a Safaricom line to book quickly via mobile phone.
Passengers can also purchase tickets directly at any Madaraka Express station. Tickets are available up to 60 days before travel, and both the online platform and USSD service support booking for up to 10 passengers per transaction.
Travelers are encouraged to arrive at the station at least one hour prior to departure. Boarding closes 11 minutes before the train leaves, with platform gates shutting 10 minutes ahead of time. Passengers must present valid original identification during both ticket purchase and boarding.
Also Read: Inside the Story of Kenya’s First Female Dispatcher on the Mombasa–Nairobi SGR
Children under 3 years travel free of charge. Those aged between 3 and 11 years are charged half the ticket price, while children older than 11 pay the full fare. If traveling with multiple children, only one child is eligible for the half-price fare, with the others paying full fare.
If travel plans change, cancellations must be made at least 48 hours before departure and will incur a 30% cancellation fee.
Rescheduling is permitted once, provided it is done 48 hours in advance, subject to seat availability, and a 10% rescheduling fee applies. Lost tickets can be reissued for a 30% fee after verifying the original booking details.
Passengers are reminded that bringing alcoholic drinks and pets onto trains or into stations is prohibited. This rule helps maintain a safe and clean environment for everyone traveling.
For more information, customers can contact Kenya Railways at 0709 907 000 or 0709 907 555, send an email to [email protected], or follow Kenya Railways on their social media platforms.
Number of SGR passengers increases
According to the latest report from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), passenger numbers on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) rose in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year.
Also Read: How to Cancel and Get a Refund for an SGR Ticket
The KNBS Quarterly Gross Domestic Product report for the second quarter of 2025 shows a 10.3 percent increase in passengers, reaching 658,600. Meanwhile, cargo volumes transported via the SGR grew by 8.7 percent to 1,894,400 metric tonnes.
This is the first passenger growth recorded since Kenya Railways implemented a 50 percent fare increase at the beginning of 2024. Passenger numbers had previously declined to 529,600 in the first quarter of 2025 from 531,700 in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of 0.9 percent.
The KNBS also noted that in 2024, SGR passenger numbers dropped by 282,000 compared to 2023, with 2,447,000 passengers using the service in 2024, down from 2,729,000 in the prior year.
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