Passengers To Pay Ksh 100 To Ride On The New High Speed Train

Passengers will pay 100 shillings a ride on the newly launched Nairobi Commuter Railway System to each destination. On Sunday released the official Nairobi Commuter Train complete schedule.

Traverse through several estates across Nairobi and its environs, the Diesel Multiple-Units will operate on a fixed schedule across the city and will charge passengers the flat rate to each destination.

Commuter train services cover the Nairobi-Imara Daima-Syokimau route, the Nairobi-Githurai-Mwiki-Kahawa–Ruiru route, the Nairobi-Embakasi route, and the Nairobi-Kibera–Kikuyu route.

They are expected to more than double passenger rail traffic from the current 15,000 to 40,000 in the race to reduce reliance on the slow and costly road transport.

“We will charge 100 shillings at every stop on DMUs. I don’t think the price are high. If we charge low prices, how do we sustain operations?” Asked KRC managing director Philp Mainga.

Last week, while launching the commuter rail system, President Kenyatta said those stations will be served by five of the 11 refurbished DMUs bought from Spain for 1.15 billion shillings.

The corporation mainly operates the old rickety locomotives in the morning and in the evening, playing the same routes that will be operated by DMUs.

The older commuter trains charge between 40 shillings and 60 shillings to ferry passengers within the city. Each train has 10 coaches carrying between 150 and 170 passengers per trip.

The reconditioned trains are part of the Master Plan of an integrated commuter system with the city and will be linked to the Bus Rapid Transit connecting from the Nairobi Central Station.

Seven trains will depart from Embakasi Village daily with arrival time supposed to be at 6.27 am, 7.08 am, 8.08 am, 10.23 am, 12.18 pm, 2.18 pm, and 7.23 pm. Each journey will take at least 20 minutes, with Nairobi Central Station the final stop.

Commuters heading to Kahawa West will have to board at Nairobi Central Terminus at 8 am and will pass through Makadara, Dandora, Mwiki, and Githurai before arriving at the last stop at 8.55 am.

The commuter train will depart daily from the Kahawa West Station at 9 am, passing through the same stations and stopping, before arriving at the Nairobi Central Terminus at 10.15 am.

One train will leave Nairobi Central Station for Ruiru daily in the evening, departing at 5.40 pm, passing through Makadara, Dandora, Mwiki, Githurai, Kahawa West, and arriving at 7.10 pm.

In the morning, the train will leave Ruiru at 6 am, passing through the above stations and arriving in the CBD at 7.35 am. The commuter train will depart daily in the morning from Kikuyu at 6 am, passing through Dagoretti and Kibra stations and arriving at Nairobi Central Terminus at 7.30 am.

Last week, during the launch, President Uhuru Kenyatta said that all passengers must adhere to the Covid-19 safety measures. Violators will not be allowed to board.