Kenya Railways has shared the progress of the upcoming Mombasa Commuter Rail train that will offer convenience to both the Madaraka Express commuters and local daily commuters with new features.
In a statement on Tuesday, August 19, the rail company revealed that the local commuters will access a faster, safer, and more affordable mode of commuting daily along the railway that will stretch over 17 kilometres.
The train, which will link travellers of the Madaraka Express train from Nairobi to Mombasa to the Mombasa Central Business District (CBD), offers two options for the locals: the 'Park and Ride' and the 'Drop and Ride' options.
The Park and Ride option will cater for motorists who can park their vehicles and ride the train back and forth, while the Drop and Ride will cater to users of public service vehicles.
In its statement, Kenya Railways further revealed that the Transport Principal Secretary, Mohammed Dhagar, had taken a test ride on the train while inspecting its progress.
"Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar today took a test ride onboard the Mombasa Commuter Rail train during an inspection tour of the project," the statement read in part.
Images shared of the new convenience train station showed that the upcoming station was near launch, as the PS was seen walking through the facility and even taking a ride on the train.
In February, the rail company announced that the new train would link the Mombasa Central Railway Station within Mombasa CBD to the SGR Mombasa Terminus in Miritini, a connection that has long been a challenge for many commuters.
"We are looking to operationalise the Link train for Mombasa County soon. Once operational, residents, tourists, and train enthusiasts travelling to Mombasa will be able to use the Link train," Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga stated on February 6.
"This train will ease access not only to Mombasa Terminus and Mombasa CBD but also to the areas in between these destinations."
It will feature a new Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) passenger station at Mombasa Terminus, with stops at Miritini, Changamwe West, Changamwe East, Shimanzi, and Mombasa Central Station, spanning 17 kilometres.
Estimated to cost Ksh4.2 billion, the project commenced in September 2022 but has faced several delays primarily due to challenges in land acquisition.
