After an analog start, the Kenya Railways finally saw the light and went digital enabling travelers to make their Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Madaraka Express online booking for Kenya train Nairobi to Mombasa or Mombasa to Nairobi from the comfort of their sofa.
This also applies for the inter county train which makes several stops at all the SGR stations along its path.
What's Covered in This Article
Madaraka Express and SGR Intercounty Train Schedule Timetable 2020
There are currently two trains – a morning train and an afternoon train – each plying the Nairobi Mombasa and Mombasa Nairobi routes.
- The Madaraka Express is the afternoon train, and is express, meaning no stops until the final destination.
- The InterCounty train is the morning train and makes stops at each county station on the SGR train route.
Nairobi to Mombasa by Train SGR Schedule Timetable 2020
Madaraka Express Train
Departure: 8:00 AM
Arrival: 13:15 PM
SGR Intercounty Train
Departure: 08:00 am
Arrival: 14:00 pm
Mombasa to Nairobi by Train SGR Schedule and Timetable 2020
Madaraka Express Train
Departure: 08:00 AM
Arrival: 13:05 PM
Departure: 15:15 PM
Arrival: 20:14 PM
SGR Intercounty Train
Departure: 08:00 am
Arrival: 14:10 pm
Departure: 20:15 PM
Arrival: 20:18 AM
Madaraka Express commuter service that shuttles between Nairobi and Suswa will be making stopovers at Ongata Rongai, Ngong, and Mai Mahiu stations.
The Madaraka Express commuter service, which combines the commuter and long distance, shall operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between Nairobi terminus and Ngong station.
Customers to Suswa will access the Madaraka express commuter terminus every Friday and Sunday.
SGR Train Madaraka Express Online Website Booking
Before this, travelers could only purchase SGR tickets at the train station or dialing SGR Online Booking code *639# from a Safaricom line and following the prompts.
Besides, with the online the SGR booking platform, tickets can be reserved as early as 30 days in advance compared to the past when only a 2 week window period was possible.
While the online option is a great step in the right direction, there is still room for improvement though.
For example, while the booking process is done online, payment is only possible by M-PESA.
Furthermore, tickets can only be printed at the train stations…
Really, Kenya Railways!
Couldn’t you guys just go all the way and enable online ticket printing as well as credit card and debit card payments to make the process seamless especially for those outside Kenya who may not have access to an M-Pesa line!
Anyhow… moving on.
How to Pay for SGR Makarda Express Train Kenya Ticket Online by M-pesa
How to pay for your Kenya train Nairobi to Mombasa – SGR Madaraka Express train ticket online – or vice versa, by M-PESA process is pretty straight forward.
- Log on to the SGR website
- Under train type, select Express If you’d rather leave in the afternoon and travel express without any stops.
- If you want to leave early morning and don’t mind the 4-minute each, multiple stops at ALL the 7 intermediate stations along the SGR line, select Inter-County.
- Click on the drop down box and select where you’re traveling from.
- The options under From will depend on your choice in 3 above.
- If travelling on the Madaraka Express, you will have only 2 options to choose from: Nairobi or Mombasa.
- If travelling Inter county, you will have 9 options to choose from:
- Nairobi
- Mombasa
- Voi
- Mtito Andei
- Mariakani
- Miaseny
- Kibwezi
- Emali
- Athi River
- Click on the drop down box and select where you’re traveling to.
- The options under To will depend on your choice in 3 above.
- If travelling on the Madaraka Express, you will have only 2 options to choose from: Nairobi or Mombasa. If travelling Inter county, you will have 9 options to choose from:
- Nairobi
- Mombasa train station
- Voi
- Mtito Andei
- Mariakani
- Miaseny
- Kibwezi
- Emali
- Athi River
- Select your preferred departure date on the calendar.
- With the online the SGR booking platform, the ticket reservation window is up to 30 days only.
- Click “Make booking“.
- This leads you to a page with a summary of your selected booking details which includes: The train type you have chosen, departure and arrival destinations, number of seats open in first class and in second class, departure and arrival times, and the fare for each coach class type.
- Choose your coach type on the right hand side of the screen above, i.e. first class or second class.
- By default, the system selects second class.
- Feel free to adjust to first class if this is your preferred option. Once you’ve selected, your option will be displayed, and the corresponding fare.
- Click ‘Book a train’.
- This takes you the next screen where you enter the passenger details.
- Enter full names of the passenger(s), their passport or ID numbers – no need for this if they are below 18, and their nationality.
- Make sure that the name on you enter in the booking matches the name on the passenger’s passport or ID card.
- There are like 50 stops where they compare the ticket with ID so you better not mess up here!
- Enter the payment details i.e. the Safaricom mobile number you will be using for payment.
- This information is crucial as it is what you will use to print out your ticket at the ticket station.
- Confirm that you’re not a robot by clicking on the captcha.
- Click the box to show agreement with the terms and conditions
- Click on the ‘pay now‘ or ‘pay later’ button.
- Check on a pop up window with payment instructions.
- Go to the MPESA Menu on your phone.
- Select Lipa Na Mpesa
- Select Paybill
- Input Paybill No. 809888.
- Input Account No. This information will be provided on the pop up window
- Enter amount payable (This information will be provided on the pop up window) and confirm.
- Input your MPESA PIN and click OK.
- Wait for a Confirmation SMS from Mpesa
- At this point, the status notification on the right hand side of the screen will be orange in color and showing ‘pending’.
- Click ‘confirm payment‘ button and qait for about 2-minutes as SGR validate your transaction.
- Once successfully validated, the status will change to a green color and will show ‘paid’.
- Below this is a section of the screen with your trip details – i.e. route, travel date, train, terminal, trip type, etc; as well as booking details – i.e. booking number, booking date, mobile number, e-mail address, booking channel, date of payment, and payment status.
- Wait for an SMS confirmation from SGR which is sent to the number you used to make payment.
- DO. NOT. DELETE. THIS. SMS!
- You will need the details on that message to print your SGR train ticket.
- Close your booking session.
- Go to Syokimau SGR station or Mombasa Miritini SGR terminus and print your train ticket.
- Yeah, I know. Sucks that printing of SGR train tickets need you to be present there at the trains station. Please just barcode the damn tickets and enable us to print at home or save on our phones!!! NKT!!!!
The Mombasa Terminus on the other hand is located in Miritini area of Mombasa County; 11 kilometers away from Mombasa CBD.
If you selected ‘pay later’ in step 13 above, just follow steps 14-21 when you’re ready to pay.
Travel tip: Book your Madaraka SGR Nairobi Mombasa train tickets 7 days before travel to be assured of a seat.
SGR Madaraka Express Charges
There is no fare difference between the SGR inter county train and Madaraka Express.
- Adults and children above 11 years : Kshs 1,000 ($10) for a second class seat and Kshs 3,000 ($30) for a first class seat.
- Children between 3 – 11 years: Kshs 500 ($5) for a second class seat and Kshs 1,500 ($15) for a first class seat;
- Children aged 3 and below travel free.
Nairobi Mombas Train SGR Main Terminus Location
There are two main SGR train stations:
- Nairobi SGR Terminus aka the SGR Syokimau Station located in Syokimau area of Nairobi
- Mombasa SGR Terminus aka the SGR Miritini Station located in Miritini, Mombasa.
According to google maps these are the two locations:
How to get to and from the Nairobi Train Terminus to Syokimau SGR Train Station
The Nairobi Terminus is located in Syokimau area of Nairobi County; 20 kilometers away from the Nairobi CBD. Please note that this station is different from the regular Syokimau train station.
The cheapest option is to take the commuter train at 6:10 am from the Nairobi railways station situated off Haile Selassie Avenue and Moi Avenue roundabout. This train will take you right up to the Nairobi Syokimau Terminus for a minimal cost of only Ksh. 50.
- Kenya Railways has provided bus/connect services to and from the Mombasa and Nairobi Termini. In Nairobi, catch the commuter train from the CBD railway station at 6:10 am; and in Mombasa catch the connect bus from the old railway station along Mijikenda Road at 6:00 am. The same services are available upon arrival to both destinations.
- In Mombasa, boarding is at the Mombasa Terminus in Miritini; customers are picked up at the old Mombasa Railways station and transported to the Terminus by buses. The same buses will transport customers on arrival from the Mombasa Terminus to Mombasa CBD. The cost is Ksh. 100.
- In Nairobi, connect services are offered by the Commuter Train and City shuttle buses at the CBD railway station. The Commuter train will pick up customers at 06:10am and transport them to the Nairobi Terminus in Syokimau area at Ksh. 50.
The same train transports passengers on arrival from the Nairobi Syokimau Terminus to Nairobi Railways Station in the CBD. The cost is Ksh. 50 as well.
Nairobi Railway Station to SGR Nairobi Syokimau Terminus Commuter Train Schedule
Mon to Friday Morning:
Departure from CBD Nairobi Railway Station: 6:10 am
Arrival at Syokimau SGR Terminus: 6:40 am
Mon to Friday Afternoon:
Departure from CBD Nairobi Railway Station: 12:00 noon
Arrival at Syokimau SGR Terminus: 13:30 pm
TRAVEL TIP: Please note that the CBD bound commuter train is very time conscious and doors close to passengers exactly 10 minutes after the SGR train arrives the Syokimau Terminus.
What this means therefore is that you MUST leave the train and find your way to the train immediately the SGR stops. Otherwise you will miss the train.
If driving, go towards Syokimau and exit after Gateway Mall as if heading back to Nairobi and to the regular Syokimau train station.
On the same side of the road, take the first turn off on your left where there is a blueish glass building – does anyone know the name of the building or the road?
Then go up that road and the Nairobi terminus entrance will be on your right hand side.
Another option is to take any Syokimau, Machakos, Kitengela bound buses or matatus from the Railways bus station situated off Haile Selassie Avenue and Moi Avenue roundabout.
Let them know you’re going to the SGR. They will drop you on the left side of the road a few meters after Gateway Mall in Syokimau and you will need to cross over to the other side of the road.
The better option will be to take a commercial motorbike (boda boda) which will then drop you right at the Nairobi Terminus.
How to get to and from the Mombasa Train Station
In Mombasa, Kenya Railways picks up passengers from the old Mombasa Railways Train station on Mijikenda Street and transports them direct to the Miritini Mombasa Terminus by buses.
The same buses transports customers on arrival from the Mombasa Terminus to Mombasa CBD. The cost is Ksh. 100
Madaraka Express SGR Train Luggage Allowance
Maximum Weight you can carry on the SGR train is 30 kilograms per person. And the luggage size measurements must be no more than 1.6 meters in height, width, and depth.
Madaraka Express SGR Refund Policy
You can claim an 80% refund of your ticket(s) on the Nairobi Mombasa Madaraka Express SGR train on only two conditions:
- Your scheduled train has not departed, and
- Your ticket is not damaged.
Your Turn
Have you traveled on the SGR Madaraka Express or Inter County train? What was your experience like? Share with us in the comments below.
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