Since early 2017, Kenya Railways Corporation has facilitated easier movement, particularly between Nairobi and Mombasa, with the introduction of the Madaraka Express, comprising the Inter County Express and Night Train Types. Without a doubt, the Madaraka Express has become an essential mode of transport, especially for those looking to avoid long-distance travel by other means, such as buses or shuttles. But one thing remains constant for all Madaraka Train Passengers? That’s understanding the train fares and even the schedules.
Every year, the Kenya Railway Corporation (KRC) usually revises the fare structure for the Madaraka Train, and as of the writing, the new fare structure is out for the 2026 financial year. The modern Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has revolutionized travel between Kenya’s capital and coastal hub, reducing journey time to 5-6 hours, compared with the colonial-era train, which took over 15 hours. And so, how much are Madaraka Train Fares? In this guide, you will discover everything that you need to know.
What classes are available on the Madaraka Express?
The Madaraka Express operates with three distinct travel classes, each designed to cater to different passenger needs and budgets:
- Premium Class – The ultimate luxury experience with fully reclining leather seats that convert to flat beds, complimentary meals, personal entertainment systems, and panoramic windows with automated shutters. Perfect for business travelers and those seeking maximum comfort.
- First Class – Offers spacious reclining seats with ample legroom, air-conditioned coaches, and limited meal services. This class provides an excellent balance of comfort and affordability.
- Economy Class – Designed for budget-conscious travelers with comfortable non-reclining seats and standard luggage space. While meals aren’t included, snacks and drinks can be purchased onboard.
Madaraka Express Train Schedules for 2026
Below are the Madaraka Train Timetables updated for 2026:
From Nairobi to Mombasa
| Train Type | Nairobi | Athi-River | Emali | Kibwezi | Mtito-Andei | Voi | Miasenyi | Mariakani | Mombasa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter-County | 0800 HRS | 0819 HRS | 0927 HRS | 1014 HRS | 1050 HRS | 1202 HRS | 1241 HRS | 1327 HRS | 1400 HRS |
| Express | 1500 HRS | – | – | – | – | 1848 HRS | – | – | 2008 HRS |
| Night Train | 2200 HRS | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0335 HRS |
Journey Duration:
- Inter-County Service: Approximately 6 hours (with stops)
- Express Service: Approximately 5 hours (limited stops)
- Night Train: Approximately 5.5 hours (non-stop overnight service)
From Mombasa to Nairobi
| Train Type | Mombasa | Mariakani | Miasenyi | Voi | Mtito-Andei | Kibwezi | Emali | Athi-River | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter-County | 0800 HRS | 0826 HRS | 0912 HRS | 0949 HRS | 1118 HRS | 1151 HRS | 1236 HRS | 1345 HRS | 1410 HRS |
| Express | 1500 HRS | – | – | – | 1638 HRS | – | – | – | 2008 HRS |
| Night Train | 2200 HRS | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0335 HRS |
Nairobi – Ngong Commuter Service (Monday to Friday)
From Nairobi Terminus to Ngong Town
| Departure | Rongai | Ngong |
|---|---|---|
| 0510 HRS | 0534 HRS | 0552 HRS |
| 1840 HRS | 1904 HRS | 1922 HRS |
From Ngong Town to Nairobi Terminus
| Ngong | Rongai | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| 0620 HRS | 0635 HRS | 0704 HRS |
| 1947 HRS | 2002 HRS | 2028 HRS |
Nairobi – Suswa Service (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
From Nairobi Terminus to Suswa Town
| Nairobi | Rongai | Ngong | Maimahiu | Suswa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0850 HRS | 0914 HRS | 0939 HRS | 1034 HRS | 1110 HRS |
From Suswa Town to Nairobi Terminus
| Suswa | Maimahiu | Ngong | Rongai | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1550 HRS | 1615 HRS | 1711 HRS | 1737 HRS | 1810 HRS |
Madaraka Express Fares 2026
The Madaraka train operates with three main travel classes: Premium, First Class, and Economy Class, each catering to different passenger needs and budgets.
As of 2026, economy class remains the most affordable option at KSh 1,500 for travel between Nairobi and Mombasa, while premium first class costs KSh 4,500 for a one-way trip. The new Premium Class, offering the highest level of luxury, is priced at KSh 12,000 for adults. Below is the complete Madaraka Express train fare structure for 2026 for all stations:
Premium Class Fares (One way)
| Route | Nairobi | Athi-River | Emali | Kibwezi | Mtito-Andei | Voi | Miasenyi | Mariakani | Mombasa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAIROBI | – | 480 | 3,180 | 4,860 | 5,980 | 8,540 | 9,820 | 11,500 | 12,000 |
| ATHI-RIVER | – | – | 2,640 | 4,380 | 5,500 | 8,060 | 9,340 | 11,020 | 11,580 |
| EMALI | – | – | – | 1,740 | 2,860 | 5,360 | 6,700 | 8,380 | 8,940 |
| KIBWEZI | – | – | – | – | 940 | 3,680 | 4,960 | 6,700 | 7,200 |
| MTITO-ANDEI | – | – | – | – | – | 2,560 | 3,820 | 5,520 | 6,080 |
| VOI | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,280 | 2,960 | 3,520 |
| MIASENYI | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,740 | 2,240 |
| MARIAKANI | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 560 |
| MOMBASA | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Premium Class Fares (Return)
| Route | Nairobi | Athi-River | Emali | Kibwezi | Mtito-Andei | Voi | Miasenyi | Mariakani | Mombasa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAIROBI | – | 800 | 5,300 | 8,100 | 9,970 | 14,240 | 16,370 | 19,170 | 20,000 |
| ATHI-RIVER | – | – | 4,400 | 7,300 | 9,170 | 13,440 | 15,570 | 18,370 | 19,300 |
| EMALI | – | – | – | 2,900 | 4,770 | 8,840 | 11,170 | 13,970 | 14,900 |
| KIBWEZI | – | – | – | – | 1,570 | 6,140 | 8,270 | 11,170 | 12,000 |
| MTITO-ANDEI | – | – | – | – | – | 4,270 | 6,370 | 9,200 | 10,140 |
| VOI | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,140 | 4,940 | 5,870 |
| MIASENYI | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,900 | 3,740 |
| MARIAKANI | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 940 |
| MOMBASA | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
First Class Fares
| Route | Nairobi | Athi-River | Emali | Kibwezi | Mtito-Andei | Voi | Miasenyi | Mariakani | Mombasa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAIROBI | – | 180 | 1,190 | 1,820 | 2,240 | 3,200 | 3,680 | 4,310 | 4,500 |
| ATHI-RIVER | – | – | 990 | 1,540 | 2,060 | 3,020 | 3,500 | 4,130 | 4,340 |
| EMALI | – | – | – | 650 | 1,070 | 2,010 | 2,510 | 3,140 | 3,350 |
| KIBWEZI | – | – | – | – | 350 | 1,380 | 1,860 | 2,510 | 2,700 |
| MTITO-ANDEI | – | – | – | – | – | 960 | 1,430 | 2,070 | 2,280 |
| VOI | – | – | – | – | – | – | 480 | 1,110 | 1,320 |
| MIASENYI | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 650 | 840 |
| MARIAKANI | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 210 |
| MOMBASA | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Economy Class Fares
| Route | Nairobi | Athi-River | Emali | Kibwezi | Mtito-Andei | Voi | Miasenyi | Mariakani | Mombasa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAIROBI | – | 90 | 390 | 600 | 740 | 1,050 | 1,350 | 1,410 | 1,500 |
| ATHI-RIVER | – | – | 330 | 540 | 680 | 990 | 1,160 | 1,350 | 1,430 |
| EMALI | – | – | – | 210 | 360 | 680 | 830 | 1,040 | 1,100 |
| KIBWEZI | – | – | – | – | 150 | 470 | 620 | 830 | 890 |
| MTITO-ANDEI | – | – | – | – | – | 320 | 480 | 690 | 750 |
| VOI | – | – | – | – | – | – | 170 | 380 | 440 |
| MIASENYI | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 210 | 290 |
| MARIAKANI | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 110 |
| MOMBASA | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Nairobi – Suswa Route
| Route | Nairobi | Rongai | Ngong | Maimahiu | Suswa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAIROBI | – | 130 | 130 | 250 | 250 |
| RONGAI | – | – | 70 | 130 | 130 |
| NGONG | – | – | – | 130 | 130 |
| MAIMAHIU | – | – | – | – | 130 |
| SUSWA | – | – | – | – | – |
Important Fare Information:
- Children between 3 and 11 years traveling with adults pay half fare
- Children over 11 years old must pay the full fare
- Children aged 3 years and below travel free
How To Get a Madaraka Express Ticket
For those looking to travel using any of the Madaraka Express Train types, you are required to have a ticket before onboarding. Here is how:
- Visit the official booking portal at https://metickets.krc.co.ke/
- Enter your travel details, including departure/destination stations and travel date
- Select your preferred coach type (Premium, First Class, or Economy Class) based on your budget and amenity preferences
- Provide passenger information (name, ID/passport number, gender, nationality)
- Make payment via M-Pesa (note: only M-Pesa payments are accepted, no direct bank transfers)
- Receive your e-ticket with a unique QR code via email or SMS, which you’ll need for boarding
Note
Individual bookings can be made up to 60 days in advance, while group bookings (20+ passengers) require at least 32 days’ reservation. In addition to the Online Booking portal, you can also dial *639# on your Safaricom number to make your bookings or personally visit any Madaraka Train station near your location to book.
KRC Contacts
For more information, please contact:
- Website: www.krc.co.ke
- Twitter: KenyaRailways_
- Facebook: Kenya Railways
- Email: info@krc.co.ke
- Phone: 0709 907 000, 0709 907 555
- Madaraka Express inquiries: 0709 388 887
FAQs
What is the difference between SGR and Madaraka Express?
SGR (Standard Gauge Railway) refers to the entire railway infrastructure and network in Kenya, while the Madaraka Express is the passenger train service that operates on the SGR line. Essentially, SGR is the railway system itself, and Madaraka Express is the branded passenger service running on it, similar to how tracks are infrastructure but trains are the service.
What classes are available on the Madaraka Express?
The Madaraka Express offers three travel classes: Economy Class (the most affordable option), First Class (offering enhanced comfort with reclining seats), and Premium Class (the luxury option with flatbed seats and complimentary meals). Each class is designed to cater to different budgets and comfort preferences.
