Commuters on the Nairobi-Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will now pay Ksh.20,000 for a return premium class ticket, according to an announcement from the Transport Ministry. A one-way ticket on the deluxe coaches will cost Ksh.12,000.
Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar received four new coaches from China at the Mombasa port on Monday. The executive coaches include amenities such as a lactation station and baby changing rooms. They feature electrical recliner seats that can rotate to allow passengers to choose their preferred direction of travel, along with both cable and wireless charging points.
The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has also included a coach specifically designed for the elderly and people with disabilities, which is equipped with more spacious toilets and assistive equipment.
Transport PS Mr. Mohamed Daghar, CBS gets a feel of the new Premium class coach at Port Reitz Freight station. The coach has modern features designed to elevate the customer experience. pic.twitter.com/qQ0ZdZcoHH
— Kenya Railways (@KenyaRailways_) July 22, 2024
Kenya Railways has updated the seating arrangement in its economy-class coaches. Instead of facing each other as before, passengers will now sit in a layout where they face either the departing or destination station.
The new design includes four charging stations per seating arrangement, a baby-changing area, foldout tray tables, and seat pockets for added convenience.
Instead, the 3 by 2 seating arrangement across the width of the coach will have passengers facing either the departing station or the destination station. pic.twitter.com/IraXM42iGW
— Kenya Railways (@KenyaRailways_) July 23, 2024
At the same time, KRC has acquired a new power car capable of carrying 20 coaches to address the increasing demand for SGR services.
“We assure you of safety, comfort, and seamless travel with our newly introduced premium class,” PS Daghar said, “We have been struggling with the demand, but with this new power car, we can meet the capacity to carry more passengers between Nairobi and Mombasa.”
Kenya Railways has since May 2017 offered first-class and economy options for its Nairobi-Mombasa trip. They cost Ksh.4,500 and Ksh.1,500 respectively.
