Madaraka Express fully booked ahead of Easter holidays

Commuters wishing to travel between Nairobi and the coastal town of Mombasa for Easter holidays using the Standard Gauge Railways will have to look for another means.

With Easter just a day away, Madaraka Express is fully booked and travellers have been urged to look for alternative means.

Kenya Railways Corporation managing director Atanas Maina said the train is booked until April 2nd.

“The train is fully booked on March 30 to April 2. There are only a few seats available on April 1, but this will be filled up even before the close of business today,” he said.

Mr Maina said there has been an increase in the number of people travelling between the two cities due to the affordable train fares compared to bus fares which are usually inflated during Easter holidays.

“To avoid inconvenience, passengers must learn to book in advance. It’s the only secret that has not been mastered by the majority of our customers,” he said.

Also read: KENYANS HAVE BEEN SHARING THEIR MOST FRUSTRATING MADARAKA EXPRESS STORIES

Passengers travelling between the two cities pay Sh700 ($7) on economy class and Sh3, 000 ($30) on first class.

Kenya Railways is, however, set to increase Nairobi-Mombasa fares by 42 per cent to Sh1,000 ($10) in May to meet operational cost.

Time factor is also a huge incentive to use the train since it takes half the time buses usually take.

Currently, two express trains depart the two cities every afternoon, one leaves Nairobi at 2.30 p.m and the other departs Mombasa at 3.15 p.m.

Two other inter-county trains leave Mombasa and Nairobi at 7.15 a.m and 8 a.m respectively traversing six counties through the Maisenyi, Voi, Mtito Andei, Kibwezi, Emali and Athi River termini.