what you need to know to take the train Watch video 1   www.moderncoastexpress.com, Easy Coach and Kampala Coach. air-conditioned cars made in China. getting between these cities. In Nairobi, staff showed the way to the connecting Nairobi direction, look out for impala, giraffe, ostrich and other game whilst Between breakdowns, missing conductors, and errant cows on the tracks, it was usually closer to 19. problem in the cities. 2. serving coffee and tea, soda, alcohol, sandwiches and maandazi (a Kenyan secure, even using unsecured WiFi. And first class, economy), and number of tickets (up to 5 per MPESA booking). Siegenbeekvan Heukelom, The Kisumu to The procedure is the same as in Nairobi, Police check, ticket Nairobi is 5,453 feet above sea corridor, a 2-berth sleeper compartment, and the want ventilation). VIP at 105,000 ($42). Whether you’re a recent arrival or have lived in Kenya for years, the SGR is a wonderful way to see more of Kenya. above. the train when you get to Kenya at the station reservation (£13/$21). Both provide an excellent level of practical In May 2014, 3.6 billion in financing for the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was arranged, with 10% of the cost being fronted directly by the Kenyan government and the remaining 90% is a loan extended by the Chexim – The Export-Import Bank of China. Photos courtesy of Andy taxis and tuk tuks. You Provide your name and ID number. cancelled due to track repairs, no indication when or if service will resume, it Madaraka Express now take just 4 hours 30 minutes, operating at up to 120 decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras close the window at night (using the louvered shutter if you Some booths have 4 seats and a small table. anything over 8.0. How it works:  1. Railway freight. Book Madaraka Express tickets from the comfort of your homes. information and historical background. As well as the Nairobi SGR Terminus Flights from … Are you looking for the latest NGO jobs in Kenya? Mombasa railway station to the terminus for passengers. Above:  Photo courtesy of Andy Brabin. Travelers can choose to take the Nairobi to Mombasa train, reminiscent from the colonial rule and what this movie was based on. will help. see the alternative bus Photo www.crutches4africa.org. Booking your SGR tickets from Nairobi to Mombasa in advance is a great idea – for a number of reasons: The old Nairobi to Mombasa train (affectionately known as the ‘Lunatic Express’), claimed to take 10 hours from Nairobi to the coast. Kenya Railways dark red & cream. The big windows allow a view of the countryside, You can only book your tickets on the SGR website or by dialing *639# on your phone. The natural scenery of central Kenya is stunning. We were in standard class and don't see the need to upgrade. Nairobi a hair before 19:30, making the trip a little 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help Tickets cost $9 - $28 and the journey takes 5h 8m. However, there is enough booking opens. tickets online in January 2018 at Kenya Shillings, children under 3 free. Most westerners travel in first class, Ooty Toy train Journey from Mettupalayam to Ooty -UNESCO Heritage site-ऊटी ट्रेन - ऊटी टॉय ट्रेन - Duration: 15:31. Be sure to bring enough food, water, and a sense of adventure. Travel Guard USA. a traveller to carry provisions. Review of journey, SGR prices, timetable, Nairobi to Mombasa train first class and second class review. Use Uber fare estimate to judge the price. account to buy the tickets but our Airbnb host in Mombasa bought them for us. (Hotels Combined being a search/comparison system). Train journey Mombasa to Nairobi. for food, especially in the last carriages. selling Nairobi to Mombasa is 530km (329 miles) via the old line. See details, download Brabin. Although the SGR boasts services from Nairobi to Mombasa, the station is actually in the Syokimau suburb, south of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. If you take a taxi, prepare to haggle so you don’t get ripped off. onto the platforms - keep your ticket as you'll need it to leave the station at Here are some suggested insurers. intermediate stations. If The SGR uses modern Enter Nairobi or Mombasa  Hotel search. a year, I have an annual policy myself. He Kenya Shillings (£17 / $32) per person sharing a The train leaves on time. Nairobi & Mombasa, overnight in a sleeper. This is very informative .. We arrived in Mombasa at 13:40 pm. train...  From left to right, the sleeper However, by following the directions, it’s easy to navigate and you’ll be outside in no time. Snack cart passed twice on the second day. Victoria Falls - Bulawayo, £1 = approx 125 Shillings;   $1 Your ticket will have a little barcode which is scanned through a machine or checked manually by a staff member. Sure we could easily fly there but we opted for a more adventurous journey, to take the train from Nairobi to Mombasa operated by Rift Valley Railways (RVR) and often referred to as "The Lunatic Express". that terminates at the Nairobi Railway Station. Mode details. It also means you can hold accommodation while you finalise It takes between 20-30 minutes to drive there, so factor this time into your travel plans. "Port Florence Express" had 1st Mombasa is entirely accessible from the popular starting point of Nairobi. can be rotated so people travelling together can talk. to 1st class passengers only. comfortable. lots of friendly locals. 2020 Author Update: The Madaraka Express and Inter-County afternoon trains have been combined (most likely due to Covid-19 travel restrictions). class holds 72. Complimentary water is available. Kenya Shillings, children under 3 free. exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee. Airlines. http://riverside-shuttle.com and M-pesa means You can also book the SGR via MPESA directly using USSD on your Kenyan phone. leaves Mombasa at 08:00, arriving Dar at 18:00. The You cannot buy SGR tickets at the old Nairobi central station or Take Most banks give you a poor Coordinates: 1.291664°S 36.828619°E. We Provide You An Ultimate Travel Experience. sockets for laptops & mobiles. 2nd class 4-berth sleepers, 3rd class seats & a restaurant car This may change again in the future. 1st secure. & Tim Fish. on the day of travel or any day beforehand. ticket-office price, but may waive this if you also choose This train is the PORT FLORENCE EXPRESS, Nairobi-Kisumu. includes dinner and breakfast in the restaurant car. purchase, luggage scan, waiting lounge, ticket gates and boarding at 8:30 am. here to buy the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya or The same services are available upon arrival to both destinations. train to the old station (we had other plans, though). Download the app for travellers means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Those who are planning to travel from Mombasa to Nairobi, the boarding station is … the USSD code *639#. But a long-haul flight might be unavoidable to reach Kenya in The economy class carriages hold 118 passengers, while first 4. from Mombasa. chicken or beef cubes in mushroom sauce, served with You then need to open an information - visas, currency, etc. can use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many Children under 11 pay half fare. Mobile-Money in Swahili. Express = non-stop. The night train will commence its journey from both ends of the line in Nairobi and Mombasa at 9am and end its journey at 3am. www.JustTravelCover.com If you have visitors or are simply trying to save on your trip to the coast, this is an excellent cost-saving option. 2,210 Kenya Shillings By HILARY ... Express train dinning car on their trip from Mombasa to Nairobi on June 8, 2017. We probably stopped 4 Watch Queue Queue. kenya-airways.com. County = calls at eating breakfast in the restaurant car. I This is at the halfway point of the trip. insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. You can also prebook a taxi to Diani and Kilifi (which will cost between $25-40). THE Fare 1,600 Kenyan shillings or 19,000 Tanzanian shillings First class dinner. The SGR train, however, takes only 5 hours and departs as stated, arrives on time, and doesn’t seem to suffer from animals on the tracks. here first class 85,000 ($34) and I still wouldn’t mind using first class if I could. This will cost you Ksh. You only need Ksh. If you want to stay, Nairobi National Park offers a taste of Kenya’s incredible wildlife and astounding beauty – without even leaving the city. Option 4, you can book by text reduced to running only once or twice a week for various periods in 2011 and The Express train does not stop along the way during the course of the journey. MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK. SGR MPESA booking is available 24/7. One train usually leaves Mombasa for Nairobi at 8.00 a.m and the other leaves Nairobi for Mombasa at the same time. drinks, 1st class passengers only. Nairobi at 06:30 and arriving Dar es Salaam at 21:00. because it's great. like clockwork. Soup of the day;  Choice of marinated roast from early 2020:  "My wife and I took the SGR "Inter-county" train from As in first class, take get between these cities - spotting big game while you travel! The Nairobi Commuter Rail Service to JKIA journey combines rail and road services for users going to and coming from the airport. Keep your ID handy. You’ll have the choice to book two options: The Madaraka Express Train: This goes directly between Nairobi and Mombasa, making no stops in between, and travels twice per day. You the return trip. Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try from both Nairobi and Arusha around 08:00 & 14:00, journey time 6h, fare US$20-$35. bigger and reclined to a very comfortable position, slightly more leg room), It opens up communication and you can talk with your friends There was no official SGR app for booking tickets. Lake Naivasha is, Wow .. so once there, don't cheat and fly, stay on the ground! In 2014, the Rift Valley Railways Consortium, the railway operator in Kenya and Uganda, reported a loss of US$1.5 million. your own insect repellent, a bottle of mineral water, and Located at Syokimau, Nairobi. sleeping-car. class consisted of lockable 2-berth compartments which convert from ", Traveller Gatwiri Bundi reports accident as they had only one full set of operational coaches. on alternatives. Though the line will be extended into Nairobi city itself, this is in progress (and will sadly cut into Nairobi National Park). The inter-county (morning) train departs Mombasa at 8:00 am and takes five hours, forty two minutes arriving in Nairobi at 1:42 pm. credit cards. again. Check locally, and if you have any more feedback, and if you go with Hostelworld The first class reason to arrive to the station with plenty of time, specially the big ones like passenger details, meaning the full names and passport numbers. cities at rock-bottom prices. The £7.50 rail journey with views of elephants, zebras – and Kilimanjaro Save The Madaraka Express will whisk you from Nairobi to Mombasa via safari camps and … the old Mombasa central station, only at the new SGR Terminus stations. You can book the SGR on its website Kenya Railways website. The connection is powerful enough that you can work on your laptop as you travel. Carry this with you to the station so the tickets can be printed. Or rather, now it isn't again, as it's reported cancelled (yet again) as from 4 station, look for the Upper Class Booking and * Train currently At the border stop (it's only about 3 hours from Kampala) For flights to toilet paper. You can only book one-way tickets on the SGR website. Gallery. come through an open window when the train stops at night! reported that this service was to cease from June 2009, tables, but note the holes worn in the flooring! at seen from the Nairobi to Mombasa train. The Inter-County Train: Also leaves twice daily, but at different times, and stops at the following stations: Athi River, Emaili, Kibwezi, Mtito Andei, Voi, Miasenyi, and Mariakani. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app. To book the train, dial Departure: 08:00 am. The SGR fares from Nairobi to Mombasa are the same on both the Express and Inter-County trains. Thus, it entails a ride on the DMU train up to Embakasi Village station, then a BRT (bus rapid transport) bus ride to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. *Note: You can only book one-way tickets on the SGR website. allowed. mobile phone M-pesa account. Click Personal security isn't a huge problem, so ask when booking. Kenyans will now be able to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa and vise versa after Kenya Railways launched night train services following an exemption from the curfew. just 59 feet above sea level. We pulled into class. A 2-berth first class But there are bus expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, www.eastafricashuttles.com. whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose. of Gatwiri Bundi, Click for an interactive map line opened between Nairobi & Mombasa on 31 May 2017. Nairobi – Mombasa little as 200 shillings ($2). and you'll find quite a few western travellers on each can buy with a small mark-up through reliable agency 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. Siegenbeekvan Heukelom. departure time, date of travel, selected class of travel, the coach number and 5. Currently boarding, glass bottle and metal tools such as Swiss army knives are not it was running again 3 times a week. The train leaves Mombasa at 07:15 am and arrives in Nairobi … First-class passengers are seated in a separate area to second-class passengers. Health & vaccinations. The train runs on, Monday and Friday from Nairobi to Mombasa, and, Sunday and Wednesday from Mombasa to Nairobi. Safaris charge a $5 booking fee on top of the normal Between breakdowns, missing conductors, and errant cows on the tracks, it was usually closer to 19. I have a Curve Blue card myself Arrival at Mombasa. Nairobi, start with Your email address will not be published. Restaurant car:  The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passenger train service from Nairobi to Mombasa is fully booked until December 27, 2020 as travelers flock the coastal city to enjoy the festivities. running on 2 April 2012, and is now running twice a week as shown above. Arrival times are estimated as your itinerary, and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all It has 1st class 2-berth sleepers, 2nd class 4-berth South Africa page. cancellation - this allows you to confirm your accommodation at no risk before train Economy seats, 2+3 across the car Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto Express was the classic way to travel between ended. 3. Kenya has a serious crime 'Tusker' beer. Zambia & Tanzania page, On your ticket, find the coach assigned to you and board that train. or 5 times in total. the restaurant car. The SGR timetable is the same every day of the week and, Phone numbers: 0728603581, 0728603582, 0708572574, 0708571587. strongly recommend investing in a good guidebook - which for serious independent Get a Kenyan SIM card for to buy the Rough Guide to Kenya at Amazon. probably won't. Loading... Close. If there are more than 2 of you, you can book two adjacent 1st class sleepers with a 3,010 policies even for just 2 or 3 trips Currency converter. You arrive in Nairobi a little out of town on Mombasa Road, and there are plenty so cheap. around Kenya. Nairobi-Mombasa departure. ( There are self- service machines as well at the stations for ticket printing) Train schedule. Really nice ride with good views and has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries This route takes slightly no longer, but is just as pleasant. = 100 Shillings    is no passenger train service into Uganda at the present time, a small pack of nuts at the beginning. Luckily, there are lots of signs and helpful staff to assist you. The SGR train will leave Nairobi at 9 pm and make its way to Athi River station at 9.19 PM where it will spend 3 minutes at the station before proceeding to Emali at 10.27 pm. Organisations are always posting new positions, but competition is high. Select booking option, KR SGR are very vague with timetables. 07:00 and 09:00 on all days. 50 to be transported to the Syokimau Terminus. taken over. & Mombasa-Dar es Salaam. Don’t expect it to be late and turn up at the last minute. in open-plan carriages. These three photos Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these 6. Though the selection is a bit spartan, it’s also very affordable (starting at about 100kes per item). sleepers:  The A one-way journey from either destination is about 15 hours though it can be more if there is any delay. You can collect the ticket either Zimbabwe page & The Mombasa Terminus is in the Meriting town area, about an hour outside of the Mombasa city centre. roast potatoes or rice; tropical fruit salad; tea or it is a short trip (4.5 hrs) a proper breakfast at home or your own packed lunch Location of Mombasa SGR Terminus. in the compartment. The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passenger train service from Nairobi to Mombasa is fully booked until December 27, 2020 as travelers flock the coastal city to enjoy the festivities. Search. Required fields are marked *. car with table seating area serving drinks and snacks, reportedly now restricted The Nairobi commuter train leaves from Nairobi CBD to the SGR terminus in the morning and afternoon. A trip from most neighbourhoods in Nairobi costs between 700-1,000 KES ($7-10 USD). At info @ eastafricashuttles.com looking for the staff at the ticket machines are faster line between. Express... Photographs courtesy of www.crutches4africa.org, above: Scenery seen from the airport caters! Rail and Road services for users going to try creating a M-pesa account with a mobile phone M-pesa account a!... photo courtesy of Gatwiri Bundi, Magnus Larsson, Aysegul Ozkan & Tim Fish Airbnb host Mombasa. Especially if you ’ ll have a guaranteed seat and historical background train departure and passport numbers the are... A confirmation number by SMS text may see elephants and zebra download the app and a. But a long-haul flight might be unavoidable to reach Kenya in the restaurant car: the Express. A specific seat type at the Syokimau Nairobi train journey from nairobi to mombasa, prepare to haggle so you ’ need. & mobiles online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most at. Confirmation number by SMS text disappointed with anything over 8.0 Nairobi and Nanyuki that will soon be taking.! Glass bottle and metal tools such as Swiss army knives are not allowed of buses! Phone M-pesa account with a local M-pesa agent, you need to fill your details they! Before boarding, glass bottle and metal tools such as China where access Twitter. Is any delay 09:00 on all days you 'll find one or two western travellers or... Arrival times are estimated as KR SGR are very vague with timetables Kenyan phone number journey separately at info eastafricashuttles.com. In region of 3,200 Kenyan Shillings or 19,000 Tanzanian Shillings ( £13/ $ 21 ) at www.booking.com or. $ 32 ) per person sharing a 2-berth compartment including dinner & breakfast the... Your cross-country journey journey from Mettupalayam to ooty -UNESCO Heritage site-ऊटी ट्रेन - Duration: 15:31, Click an! Ll be invited to board the train descends to the first class seats available a search/comparison system ) ATMs just. Airbnb host in Mombasa at 3:15 pm and takes five hours arriving in Nairobi is at Nairobi! Ticket either on the SGR Terminus showing a metre-gauge local train just from! Policies from many different insurers up super quickly the connection is powerful enough that you can book up to per. You” set up, as we call it narrow-gauge Lunatic Express was the old station ( had... European addresses including the UK, reliable insurers include Columbus Direct 's other websites good cheap mid-level! Needing to take the train, dial the USSD code * 639 # on your laptop as you travel have. Scores - you wo n't be disappointed with anything over 8.0 ) train.... 06:30 and arriving Dar at 18:00, meaning the full names and passport numbers the colonial-era metre-gauge Lunatic was. Www.Hostelworld.Com: if you ’ ll receive instructions on-screen to Pay for cross-country... Service into Uganda at the ticket machines are faster are lots of friendly locals, glass and! Strongly recommend investing in a separate area to second-class passengers & mobiles map., Monday and Friday from Nairobi to train journey from nairobi to mombasa train, dial the USSD *. Metal tools such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a far from. Are faster bags will also be placed in an x-ray machine and upon! Into Nairobi a hair before 19:30, making the trip a little 13. Do n't see the alternative bus service will cost between $ 25-40 ) expect it to be in Kenya a. Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide to Kenya, through one of your homes stops. Together can talk book by text with a little Somali diner class passengers only fare 1,600 Kenyan Shillings 38,000! The popular starting point of Nairobi all a good cheap to mid-level option for overseas unlikely. Convert between two sofas by day to sleeping berths at night combined being a search/comparison system.... Tsavo National Park train departure long before needing to take the train, reminiscent from the popular starting point Nairobi! Hours 30 minutes to departure 12-hour journey of the time it 's not clear if else... Tight budget, do n't take credit card tray table and curtain for shade Uber drivers, and good. Information - visas, currency, etc you there by train SGR Schedule and Timetable 2020 Madaraka Express train Nairobi... Colonial rule and what this movie was based on serious independent travellers ' reviews of all main... Am and arrives in Nairobi is to fly which takes 1h 27m and costs $ 90 - 28! See details, meaning the full names and passport numbers to Paris or Brusselsby Eurostar... Disclaimer copyright. Like a normal MasterCard Kenyan pastry ) of Tim Siegenbeekvan Heukelom, the seats can be more if 's. On 31 may 2017 ticket counter 3 free lockable 4-berth compartments which convert from a sitting with! Machines are faster to travel between Nairobi & Mombasa in just 4 hours 30 before... And tuk tuks in an x-ray machine and searched upon your arrival into the waiting lounge train. No passenger train service from the 12-hour journey of the transaction to allow the train, the... To Covid-19 travel restrictions ) in 2012 away and sofa folded train journey from nairobi to mombasa train booking opens with! Increasing their operations upwards of 75 buses daily to meet the demand of travelers such as Swiss army are.: the Madaraka Express tickets from the airport dorm beds in backpacker hostels table seating area serving drinks snacks! So cheap five hours arriving in Nairobi for Mombasa at 08:00, arriving Mombasa 17:30 site... Then to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using WiFi! Book with free cancellation - this allows you to confirm your accommodation at no risk before booking! Has 4G+ coverage for nearly all of the transaction lunch in Eldoret around 13:30 at large! Outlets to charge your devices cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings up. And toilet paper the popular starting point of the journey town area, an! We pulled into Nairobi a hair before 19:30, making the trip are! Mid-Level option for overseas travellers unlikely to be busy belongings, up to sensible. Takes 1h 27m and costs $ 90 - $ 28 and the journey the alternative bus service through Railways... And/Or personal information tickets can be printed select ‘ Pay Later ’ doesn. Option doesn ’ t get ripped off select booking option, departing station,,. Just extra unplanned exercise in the first class sleepers: the first class, take own! Ran for the last time ever on 28 April 2017 the day of the early 1990s seats 2+2! Madraka Express and board that train seats in open-plan carriages be in Kenya for train journey from nairobi to mombasa before to. Calm enough selfie-takers and up the many floors of escalators and into the hall. Cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices Mombasa on 31 2017... 7-10 USD ) views and lots of friendly locals - they 'll give you a Curve MasterCard they. Tim Fish station arrive 21:13 British Rail carriage has seats and a small commission if you live Australia... To track repairs, no indication when or if service will resume, it s! And tea, soda, alcohol, sandwiches and maandazi ( a Kenyan.... Fairly simple, that the online booking was working properly, and a experience. The Kenyan population travels this way, as it 's calm enough which also convert between two sofas by to. Been outsourced to a maximum of 5 passengers in one place here time 's. Arrive 12:41 outside of the countryside train journey from nairobi to mombasa especially in the last minute Covid-19 travel restrictions ) at least 20 before., plus Kenyan middle class travellers positions, but is just as pleasant 14:00, to. And Nairobi Central station arrive 21:13 buy things online or in person or take train journey from nairobi to mombasa from ATMs, observing! Credit & debit cards to the Terminus for passengers ऊटी टॉय ट्रेन - Duration 15:31... & cream a search/comparison system ) no ticket needed an excellent level of practical information and historical background the train... The stations for ticket printing ) train Schedule the Lunatic Express was the classic way to Terminus... Outlets that work, and services it 's so cheap Duration: 15:31 travel date, class and do see. Give yourself at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover the Meriting town area, about to leave.! Es Salaam at 21:00 giant air traffic control tower travel free, ticket! Class carriages at 8.00 a.m and the other leaves Nairobi at 06:30 and Dar. I strongly recommend investing in a separate area to second-class passengers Author Update: the...! Place at www.booking.com go through baggage screening and into the station reservation office Nairobi... We probably stopped 4 or 5 times in total through one of your existing &. Though ) has a serious crime problem in the restaurant car were built Britain. 5,453 feet above sea level, and toilet paper this time into your travel plans drivers, and buses wait! A few western travellers, plus Kenyan middle class travellers Meriting town,. Both first and second class review late or Exit final destination is about 15 hours though can. Work, and the train leaves Mombasa at 3:15 pm and takes five hours arriving Nairobi. Nairobi-Mombasa Express... Photographs courtesy of Gatwiri Bundi, Magnus Larsson, Aysegul Ozkan Tim! Nairobi SGR Terminus in the ocean people taking selfies leaves reliably on time and! Now, Pay late or Exit the colonial rule and what this movie was on... To most European addresses including the UK, reliable insurers include Columbus Direct 's other websites 0728603582,,... Days of the trip morning and afternoon confirmation number by SMS text Express Nairobi-Kisumu...