Kenya Railways has rolled out new SMS based online booking service
Unlike before where booking a train ticket via Mpesa was a nightmare all one needs to do now is click a USSD code to book and pay for the train ticket.
Kenya Railways has rolled out a simple and quick SMS based booking process which will enable passengers to immediately book a train ticket, make payments via MPESA all at the comfort of their homes or office.
In a series of tweets from its official twitter handle Kenya railways announced that a new secure Short Message Service SMS based USSD code *639# is now available for booking and paying for the train ticket.
Unlike before where booking a train ticket via Mpesa took hours and energy as one had to call Kenya railways helpline number which due to heavy traffic was forever engaged, should you get lucky and your call went through the attendant would then check if there was space and only then could they advise you to pay the fare via Mpesa and after that you were then required to physically go and collect your ticket.
Now all one needs to do is dial *639# and follow two simple steps to book and check your ticket.
Booking a train ticket was one of the most frustrating things Kenyans had complained about and wondered how Kenya being the home of revolutionary money transfer service Mpesa could not have such a crucial and basic service as online booking.
Furthermore passengers will now be able to make up to 5 bookings at a go and purchase tickets up to 7 days in advance on *639# code.
The development of an online booking portal which will allow online payment service providers to connect to the booking system is at trial stage.
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