SGR From Nairobi To Mombasa Fully Booked For Christmas

The standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger service between Nairobi and Mombasa is fully booked ahead of Christmas forcing holidaymakers to seek alternative options.

The bookings register shows that the trains are fully booked between December 23 and 24 with the few seats available on December 25 set to be snapped up in the coming days. Fares on the economy class section are 1,000 shillings with first-class tickets going for 3,000 shillings.

Children below three years are not charged any fee to take a ride on the train while those from 3-11 years pay half the price adults to pay on the economy and first-class tickets.

While travel restrictions continue to threaten smooth travel across the country during the festive period, there is an opportunity for Kenyans to embrace local leisure tourism with some flocking to the coastal city to enjoy the festivities

This will boost bus owners and airlines alike as families looking to enjoy the holiday in Mombasa and the South Coast

Airlines have also increased fares from Nairobi to Mombasa ahead of Christmas on early bookings and the ticket prices are expected to rise further in the coming days.

“The trains are fully booked up to December 24^th. We have seen a change in trend where passengers are booking for their tickets earlier” said the corporation in a statement yesterday

Increased bookings have also been witnessed barely a few days to Christmas, an indicator that more people will opt to travel to the coast, way before Christmas.

Just like previous years, Kenyans are taking advantage of the festive season to travel out of the busy capital to cap off a year, which has albeit been unlike any other in style.

Kenya Railways has steadily increased coaches on the Nairobi-Mombasa line, since the SGR launch in June 2017, to match the rising demand that has denied bus operators new customers.

SGR train has a capacity for 1,260 passengers with 15 economy classes and three first-class coaches. It also comes with a luggage carrier with a total capacity of 70 tonnes.