It’s a festive month,planning to visit the coastal part of Kenya?Worry no more as the Makadara Express train is set to increase the number of coaches.
The standard gauge railway (SGR)dubbed Madaraka Express train has announced plans to increase the number of coaches to 14 in the next three weeks in a move aimed at accommodating more passengers traveling from Nairobi to Mombasa during the festive season.
Kenya Railways acting managing director Philip Mainga said Monday the coaches will be increased to 14 from nine for economy class passengers in the next three weeks.
The two coaches for first class passengers, however, will remain the same in the new service regime set to take effect starting December 24.
The train is currently pulling nine coaches (1,062 passengers) on economy class tickets and two coaches (138 passengers) on the first class tickets.
According to bussiness daily,the additional the five coaches will be added in three weeks time.
“We will be adding five more coaches on the Madaraka express train starting December 24 to December 27 to accommodate more passengers during the festive season.” said Mr Mainga .
The SGR passenger train service between Nairobi and Mombasa was launched last June.
The trains have been departing daily from both directions, offering a four-and-a-half-hour non-stop connection between the country’s two major cities.
It charges Sh3,000 on first class coaches and Sh1,000 on economy class coaches.
The inter-county service train that was launched last December charges Sh50 from Mombasa to Mariakani, Sh230 from Voi to Kibwezi, Sh130 from Athi River to Emali, Sh510 from Nairobi to Voi and Sh400 from Emali to Maisenyi on economy class coaches.