Madaraka Express Gets Extra Trains as Passenger Demand Surges

Kenya Railways has announced special Madaraka Express train services between Nairobi and Mombasa on August 31 and September 1, 2026, due to increased passenger demand.

In a public notice issued on Monday, August 31, Kenya Railways said the special services have been opened for booking, urging its customers to secure their tickets on time.

On their schedule, an additional train will depart Mombasa Terminus at 8:40 p.m. on Monday, August 31, 2026.

On Tuesday, September 1, two more special services will take place, with one train leaving Nairobi Terminus at 9:40 a.m. and another departing Mombasa Terminus at 4:30 p.m.

Additional Train Services

These additional train services are expected to reduce pressure on the regular Madaraka Express services, which usually have a lot of passengers between Nairobi and Mombasa.

Kenya Railways has encouraged passengers to make their bookings as early as possible to take advantage of the added capacity in the special services.

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Members of the public have also been warned of unofficial booking websites that are scams, urging their passengers to book only through their official channels.

Passengers who want to use the Madaraka Express can use their online website or via their USSD code *639# or by visiting any Madaraka Express passenger service stations.

Their Regular Services Are The Same

The notice comes as Madaraka Express continues to play a key role in passenger transport along the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), providing thousands of travellers with a transport alternative between Nairobi and Mombasa.

In addition, Kenya Railways did not indicate whether the additional services would become permanent but rather described them as special trains available for the two specified dates.

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They also did not announce any changes to their regular Madaraka Express services, meaning the special services will be available alongside their regular Madaraka Express timetable.

Additionally, Kenya Railways said the move is to provide travellers with more options during the busy travel period while ensuring bookings are conducted through secure and official channels.

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