Railway line linking Mombasa SGR terminus to city centre complete

Kenya Railways has completed construction of the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service, a project aimed at easing congestion and linking travellers using the Madaraka Express train to the coastal city’s city centre.

The Ksh.4.2 billion project links the Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminus in Miritini and the Mombasa Central Railway Station.

It involved building new passenger stations in Mombasa town and Miritini, improving 16.6 kilometres of metre-gauge railway, and constructing a 2.3-kilometre railway bridge across the Makupa Causeway.

Two additional stations will be built in Changamwe West and Changamwe East, Kenya Railways said.

Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar confirmed that test rides had been conducted to ensure the line’s safety and that passenger services will begin “soon.”

“Our goal is to reduce commuting time, ease road congestion, cut carbon emissions, and provide safe, reliable, and affordable transport for all,” Daghar said.

The service is expected to serve over 1,000 commuters daily and is designed to complement the Nairobi-Mombasa Madaraka Express passenger service.

Until now, passengers alighting at the Miritini SGR terminus, about 15 kilometres from the Mombasa city centre, have mostly relied on taxis for the last-mile trip.

Kenya Railways said the new Mombasa Commuter Rail Service will have car parking for travellers, with a capacity of more than 100 vehicles.

“The schedule has been aligned to ensure that every time the Madaraka Express Passenger Service train arrives, the link train will be on standby to offer the last mile connectivity into Mombasa town,” said Kenya Railways Chairman Abdi Bare.

“This same Link train will have brought passengers who will travel aboard the Madaraka Express Passenger Service train.”

The project commenced in September 2022 but stalled over halfway through due to land acquisition challenges.

Eventually, the Ministry of Transport allocated Ksh.1.1 billion to the National Land Commission to compensate owners of a 1.4-kilometre stretch of land needed for the railroad.