The newly built Standard-Gauge Railway (SGR) that connects Nairobi and Mombasa has been ranked among the most remarkable rails to tour in the world, following the annual Telegraph survey.
The highly-rated British paper carries out annual surveys on a global scale and publishes a detailed list of the places around the world that made the cut.
Madaraka Express, as it was christened, ranked seventh under the remarkable rail journeys in the world category.
Traversing through some of the country’s major national parks was mentioned as one of the key factors behind the global accolade, with the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, which gives a majestic view of Mt Kilimanjaro, and Kilaguni Safari Lodge cited as some of the best places to visit for those using the Madaraka Express.
“The new standard-gauge railway between Mombasa and Nairobi provides the link between the coast and Amboseli and Tsavo West national parks,” read the Telegraph publication.
SGR corporation acting managing director, Philip Mainga, was elated by the global acclaim, going on to add that such recognition and publicity would greatly boost the number of individuals willing to use the acclaimed railway line as their preferred mode of transport.
“To be recognized in the international arena is not easy. This just confirms that the investment we have put into creating a world-class experience for our customers combined with innovations and hard work by our team is not in vain,” he remarked.
Sweden’s Inlandsbanan railway, which traverses the continent’s last wilderness of untouched forests and lakes, is ranked the most remarkable railway trip in the world, while The Tangier to Marrakech railway, in Morocco, was the only other African railway line that made the prestigious list.
Mainga also revealed that the number of passengers using the feted railway line was on a steady rise, with an increase in the number of foreigners preferring it to other modes of travel on the rise as well.
During the most recent Christmas period, President Uhuru Kenyatta accompanied by his wife Margaret used the SGR on their trip to Mombasa where they spent their holiday.
