Kenya wildlife safaris

Passengers should get to the train station not later than 60 minutes before departure for an easy check-in and boarding experience. The final call for boarding the train is made 11 minutes to departure time and the gates to the platform close 10 minutes before departure time. To access the platform area, simply hold the QR Code on your ticket against the scanner on the entry gate to open it.

Online: Enjoy the convenience of booking a ride on the Madaraka Express Passenger Service through our online booking platform(metickets.krc.co.ke). It’s quick and easy-to-use. Payment is made via M-pesa. One can book up to a maximum of ten (10) persons per transaction with the online platform. In person: Over the counter at the nearest Madaraka Express Passenger Service station.  By phone. Utilizing the USSD Payment Solution by dialing *639# on your Safaricom line and following the steps as prompted. One can book up to a maximum of ten (10) persons per transaction with the USSD Payment Solution. Payment is made via M-pesa.

Passengers can purchase a ticket up to sixty (60) days in advance and a return ticket as long as it is within the sixty (60) days window period. Passengers are advised to have original identification documents when booking over the counter and during the journey.

The Madaraka Express Passenger Service offers two types of train service each making two round-trips a day. The Inter-county train runs in the morning and makes stopovers in Athi River, Emali, Kibwezi, Mtito Andei, Voi, Miasenyi and Mariakani county stations. The Express trains (Afternoon & Night) does not stop along the way during the course of the journey.

Mombasa – Nairobi

The Inter-county (morning) train departs Mombasa Terminus at 0800 hrs and arrives in Nairobi at 1408 hrs.

The afternoon Express train departs Mombasa Terminus at 1500 hrs and arrives in Nairobi at 2008 hrs.

The Night Express train departs Mombasa Terminus at 2200 hrs and arrives in Nairobi at 0335 hrs.

Nairobi – Mombasa

The Inter-county (morning) train departs Nairobi Terminus at 0800 hrs arrives in Mombasa at 1400 hrs.

The afternoon Express train departs Nairobi Terminus at 1500 hrs and arrives in Mombasa at 2008 hrs.

The Night Express train departs Nairobi Terminus at 2200 hrs and arrives in Mombasa at 0335 hrs.

The following Original Identification Documents are accepted. Passengers should bring either of these documents during booking and on the day of travelling:

1. 1. Kenya National Identity Card
   2. Valid Passport
   3. Huduma Card
   4. Alien ID card
   5. Kenya Military Identity Card
   6. Diplomatic ID
   7. New Generation/Smart Driving Licence
   8. Police Abstract Indicating Loss of Identity Card
   9. Valid National ID Waiting Card

Copies (in hard or soft copies) of the above listed documents will NOT be accepted.

Children can travel free of charge up to the age of three (3) years. Children aged four (4) to eleven (11) years must purchase a ticket which is usually half (50% off) of the adult fare. At twelve (12) years of age and above, one must purchase a ticket at the full adult fare. Children below 13 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Cases where a passenger desires to change his/her travel, the following rescheduling and refund procedure shall be observed:

Cancellation

1. Cancelling a ticket for individual travel should be done not later than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the departure time indicated on the ticket
2. In order to cancel a ticket, one must visit the nearest Madaraka Express Passenger Service station. Passengers will be required to provide the original identification documents and a photocopy of the same
3. Refunds shall be subject to a 30% fee of fare
4. Requests for a refund will be rejected in cases where the tickets are damaged (unrecognizable)

Rescheduling

1. Tickets for individual travel can be rescheduled not later than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the departure time indicated on the ticket
2. In order to reschedule a ticket, one must visit the nearest Madaraka Express Passenger Service station. Passengers will be required to provide the original identification documents and a photocopy of the same
3. Rescheduling of tickets is done using the details provided during the initial booking instance i.e same class, same service, same person and is subject to availability of seats.
4. A ticket can only be rescheduled once. A rescheduled ticket cannot be refunded incase the passenger fails to travel
5. Rescheduling a ticket will attract a 10% fee of the fare.

You cannot transfer a ticket from one holder to another.

You can check availability of seats online (metickets.krc.co.ke) or via the USSD Payment Solution (*639#).

Yes. Whenever your item is confiscated because it is prohibited, kindly leave us with your details. You can pick the item at a later date or send a representative to pick for you.

Yes. We accept VISA and Master Cards.

Each passenger is allowed to bring items on board. The allowed maximum weight is 30 kilograms and measurement is 2 metre height by 1 metre breadth and 1 metre width. Passengers are advised to have a tag with personal details during travel.

Any property found on the train is handed in to our passenger stewards and kept safely. In order to claim lost and found items, one needs to visit the arrival station and identify the item before collecting. Notifications for lost and found items should be done within 30 days of the incident date.

Yes, one can park a vehicle overnight. He/She must inform security. This costs Ksh. 200 per night.

A seat is only reserved upon completion of the booking process and payment of the full ticket fee for the intended journey.

By visiting the nearest Madaraka Express Passenger Service station not later than 48 hrs prior to the departure time indicated on the ticket the customer is in possession of. One should carry along the original Identification documents of the ticket holder and a photocopy of the same. This will attract a charge (30% of the ticket fee) to be paid in cash.

Two main stations at Mombasa and Nairobi and seven intermediate stations at Mariakani, Miasenyi, Voi, Mtito Andei, Kibwezi, Emali, Athi River The railway stations are well developed with excellent facilities which include

1. Cafés, restaurants and shops
2. Elevators, escalators and access for disabled passengers
3. Well lit stair case
4. Spacious passenger lobby
5. Self-service machines for printing tickets
6. Rest rooms.

Your e-ticket number or e-ticket confirmation code is a string of seven (7) letters that can be found on the message received on your upon booking via the USSD Payment Solution (*639#) or online (https//metickets.krc.co.ke). The message also indicates your train departure, travel date, route (from – to), coach number and seat number.

On occasions, the system may fail to send the ticket purchase confirmation message. In such cases, the M-pesa transaction message received upon payment can be utilized to print the ticket at the train station before departure. One is required to key in the mobile number used to transact and the account number the funds were sent to (contained in the M-pesa message) in order to print the ticket.

If your paper ticket is lost or stolen; you’ll need to purchase a new one in order to travel.

In consideration of the safety of other passengers, Management notes that: Pets are likely to carry viruses and bacteria thus posing a danger to other passengers. Pets are also likely to be offensive to the passengers, especially odour and excreta of pets may pollute the environment in the train and cause discomfort for other passengers. For this reasons, KR Management prohibits bringing pets onboard the train.

Yes. You can print your train ticket at the station at the self-service machines found at the ticketing offices at all stations prior to boarding the train. You can do this on the day of your travel, or anytime prior. In case of any challenges, kindly seek assistance of the Passenger Stewards at the ticketing office. Tickets can also be printed over the counter.

A valid train ticket must indicate:

Snacks, beverages, or meals are on sale onboard the train. NAS Serve Air Ltd is the onboard Catering service provider.

The booking office opens at 6:30 am and closes at 10:00 pm. Selling of tickets for travel on the Madaraka Express Passenger Service trains between Mombasa and Suswa stops 10 minutes before departure for each trip..

The Madaraka Express Passenger Service between Mombasa and Nairobi operates every day. The Madaraka Express Commuter Service between Nairobi Terminus and Ngong station operates every Monday to Friday. The Madaraka Express Passenger Service Leisure train between Nairobi Terminus and Suswa station in Narok County operates every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

To book a ticket via telephone, one should call 0709 388888 between 8:00 am and 8:30 pm; and for enquiries reach us on 0709 388887 between 6:30 am and 8:30 pm.

The Nairobi Terminus is located in Syokimau area of Nairobi County; 20 kilometres away from the Nairobi CBD.

Mombasa Terminus is located in Miritini area of Mombasa County; 11 kilometres away from Mombasa CBD.

In Mombasa

Kenya Railways has allowed private Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators to offer connect services to and from the Mombasa Terminus.

In Nairobi

Kenya Railways has provided a Commuter Link train which transports passengers between Nairobi Central station in the Central Business District and the Nairobi Terminus in Syokimau as below:

1. Customers who wish to catch the Madaraka Express Passenger Service Inter-county train to Mombasa which normally departs at 0800 hrs can use the Commuter Link train from Nairobi Central Railway station in the CBD at 0635 hrs to the Nairobi Terminus every day.
2. Customers who wish to catch the Madaraka Express Passenger Service afternoon Express train to Mombasa which normally leaves at 1500 hrs can use the Commuter Link train that departs Nairobi Central Railway station at 1200 hrs to the Nairobi Terminus every day.
3. Customers using the Ngong/Ongata Rongai to Nairobi Terminus Madaraka Express Commuter Service morning train can proceed to the Nairobi Central Business district using the Commuter train that departs Nairobi Terminus at 0704 hrs.
4. Customers who wish to use rail services to Ongata Rongai and Ngong towns from the CBD can use the Commuter train which leaves the Nairobi Central Railway station at 1730 hrs every day.
5. The link train is available every day to transport customers arriving from Mombasa aboard the Mombasa to Nairobi Inter-county train at 1430 hrs and the Mombasa to Nairobi Express train at 2000 hrs and at 0350 hrs.