Kenya Railways on Tuesday announced the resumption of Kisumu Safari train services. The much-awaited services are scheduled to begin on Friday, December 6, after the completion of rehabilitation.
According to a communique shared by the rail transport provider, users who will subscribe to the service will board 3 trains consecutively from Nairobi Central Station to Kisumu Station.
Transport for the Safari train services will be undertaken during the night. The train will depart Nairobi Central Station every Friday at 4 pm and arrive at Kisumu Station on Saturday at 6:30 am.
Economy class tickets will cost Ksh900 while first-class tickets will cost Ksh2,400. The service will typically operate on Fridays from Nairobi and make a return trip on Sundays from Kisumu.
The route map of the journey will kick off at Nairobi Central Railway Station at 4 pm then make a stopover at Nairobi Terminus around 5:20 pm where passengers will board Madaraka Express Train to Mai Mahiu.
At Maai Mahiu Station, passengers will alight the Madaraka Express Train and board an MGR train at 6:55 pm. From Maai Mahiu Station travelers will travel through the night and arrive at Kisumu Station on Saturday at 6:30 am. The return trip will follow the same route map.
Passengers with cargo exceeding a width of 1.6 meters and a length of 2 meters will not be allowed to board the train.
In the announcement, Kenya Railways emphasized that passengers must arrive at least one hour before departure time for verifications.
The train services from Nairobi to Kisumu were temporarily suspended on November 25, due to ongoing line rehabilitation efforts that began earlier in the year.
Kenya Railways suspended its Nairobi-Kisumu train services earlier in the year due to damaged railway lines which were affected by heavy rains and previous flooding.
The Kisumu Safari train offers a scenic journey with modern amenities and affordable fares, making it an attractive option for travellers between Nairobi and Kisumu.
It was not the first time the services were suspended and resumed. On December 17, 2021, Kisumu Safari Train service resumed after a decade-long suspension due to railway deterioration.
