Kenya Railways on Thursday, June 15, announced the temporary suspension of its midweek passenger train service between Nairobi Capital and Nanyuki Town in Laikipia County.
The indefinite suspension will take effect beginning Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
"We wish to notify the public that we have temporarily suspended the midweek train service to Nanyuki effective Wednesday, June 21, 2023, until further notice," Kenya Railways stated.
The corporation, however, noted that weekend trips, which depart from Nairobi on Friday afternoons and arrive in Nanyuki on Saturday mornings, will continue as usual.
"The weekend trips where we have a train departing for Nanyuki every Friday at 9:00 am and making the return trip every Sunday at 9:00 am shall continue uninterrupted," the statement added.
Kenya Railways, as a result, urged passengers who booked tickets for the midweek trains to contact the company for refunds.
"We thank you for your continued support and will endeavour to improve our service to serve you better," the management announced.
The suspension of the midweek passenger train service is a blow to businesses and tourists who rely on the train to travel between Nairobi and Nanyuki.
However, Kenya Railways explained that the suspension is only temporary and that the midweek train service will be resumed once all pending matters are well-addressed.
The Nairobi - Nanyuki railway line is a 177.2km meter stretch first built in three phases between 1913 and 1931.
In 2020, Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered its reconstruction and rehabilitation, a project that was undertaken by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
The line is used for both passenger and freight traffic, and is a popular tourist destination, especially for those visiting tourist sites in North and Central Kenya.
The train journey from Nairobi to Nanyuki takes around 5 hours and passes through some of the most beautiful scenery on the Kenyan landscape.
Along the way, passengers get to see rolling hills, lush forests, and the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya. The train makes stops in Thika and Sagana towns.
