Starting from January 1, 2024, Kenya Railways plans to implement a 50 percent fare increase for its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train service.
The fare for the first-class ticket from Nairobi to Mombasa will be adjusted to Sh4,500, while the economy class ticket will rise to Sh1,500.
Kenya Railways attributes this fare hike to the rising costs of fuel, which have significantly increased their operational expenses. In an official statement, the company explained that the surge in fuel prices has necessitated this fare adjustment.
The price revision will affect various train services, including the Madaraka Express, Nairobi Commuter Rail Service, and the Kisumu and Nanyuki Safari trains.
A notice issued by Kenya Railways reveals that passengers using the Economy Class for the Nairobi-Mombasa route will experience a Sh500 increase, raising the cost to Sh1,500 from the previous Sh1,000.
Kenya Railways emphasized, “This fare increase is a direct response to changes in the energy and petroleum sector, where fuel prices have risen significantly, directly impacting our operational costs.”
These new fares will become effective on January 1, 2024.
However, Kenya Railways notes that customers purchasing advance tickets for the Madaraka Express Passenger Service will observe the adjusted fares starting from November 1, 2023, to accommodate a 60-day advance ticket purchasing window.
Details about the fare adjustments for the Kisumu and Nanyuki routes are yet to be released.
Currently, in Nairobi, a liter of Super Petrol is being sold at Sh217.36, diesel at Sh205.47, and kerosene at Sh205.06.
