Construction of the Mombasa SGR Terminus-City Centre commuter railway line has been completed, and plans are underway for its commissioning in mid-September, Kenya Railways has revealed.
The Ksh 6 billion project included rehabilitating the existing Mombasa Island–Miritini metre-gauge railway (MGR) line, as well as constructing the Mombasa MGR station.
According to the Kenya Railways Authority, the commuter service will provide seamless connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Nairobi and Mombasa using the Madaraka Express passenger service.
The authority added that the new railway link will also serve residents of Mazeras, Shimanzi, Changamwe, and other communities along the route.
During an inspection tour, Transport CS Davis Chirchir announced that the commuter train will carry 4,000 passengers daily between Mombasa's central business district and the SGR terminus. This will reduce traffic congestion on the coastal city’s roads.
The new train will offer locals two options: 'Park and Ride' and 'Drop and Ride'.
The 'Park and Ride' option is intended for motorists, allowing them to park their vehicles and take the train to and from the terminus, while the 'Drop and Ride' option is intended for users of public service vehicles.
The project included a new MGR passenger station at Mombasa Terminus and a rail with stops at Miritini, Changamwe West, Changamwe East, Shimanzi and Mombasa Central Station.
The project, which began in September 2022, features a 17-kilometre railway. It had faced several delays, mostly due to challenges in acquiring land for expansion.
In February, Kenya Railways announced that the new train would provide the link between the SGR and the city centre, which 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."
"This train will ease access not only to Mombasa Terminus and Mombasa CBD but also to the areas in between these destinations," Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga said then.
