My Journey through time on Kenya's Railways.

 

My journey with train travel started back in the early 90s with the Kenya Railways Corporation. I vividly remember my maiden voyage from Nairobi to Kisumu, traveling on a second-class ticket. The experience was somewhat nostalgic and undoubtedly exciting. Boarding the evening train meant that the entire journey would be a night travel. To my surprise and delight, there were beds in the second-class cubicles, offering a comfortable night’s sleep. By the time I awoke, we had reached our destination in the morning. I disembarked at Maseno station, where I was to meet a friend and navigate my way through the Kisumu environment.

Fast forward to my next train ride during a visit to London, where I traveled from Liverpool Train Station to Colchester Town. Unlike my Kenyan experience, there were no beds on this train, making the ride less comfortable than my first memorable journey this was an  indication times have changed and the train cubical arrangements changed as well.

Years later, now in Kenya, I had the opportunity to travel on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Mombasa to Voi for some official work with my colleagues. To my amazement, the train was the same model as the one I had used in London. It struck me – why hadn’t anyone told me about the SGR? I had been enduring long, tiresome road trips from Nairobi to Mombasa for holidays, unaware of this convenient and comfortable alternative.

The SGR is indeed the current big thing in Kenya’s transportation landscape. Kenya Railways Corporation should do more to inform the public about this modern mode of transport. My previous assumption that train rides were for those who couldn’t afford airfare or weren’t in a hurry was thoroughly debunked. The SGR offers the best mode of transportation comfort, convenience, and peace of mind.

As I write this article, I am on my second SGR ride from Mombasa to Nairobi. I checked in at 2 PM, early enough to scan my environment and observe the passengers. As a consultant, I picked out some key observations.

Firstly, at the Syokimau SGR station, passengers are provided with a commuter train to Nairobi CBD if they do not have a car or do not wish to use a taxi. This is a commendable service. However, for the Mombasa SGR terminal, there isn’t a similar commuter train service. Passengers have to rely on available public motor vehicles and taxis at the station.

To enhance customer experience, bus companies could partner with Kenya Railways Corporation to provide commuter services from the Mombasa terminal to Mombasa CBD. Additionally, these companies could lease some train wagons exclusively for their passengers wishing to board the train instead of their buses. This would go a long way in improving the overall customer experience.

Train travel has evolved significantly from my early days with the Kenya Railways Corporation. The introduction of the SGR has revolutionized transportation in Kenya, offering a modern, comfortable, and convenient alternative to road travel. If you haven’t experienced the SGR yet, I highly recommend it. The seamless service, comfort, and efficiency make it the ideal choice for travel between Nairobi and Mombasa. Let’s embrace this fantastic development and encourage others to do the same.

Madaraka Express Experience is a mixture of tourism, nature and travel in one whole package. 

Tembea Kenya!!!!

Author 

Ekaale Ekuam 

A Freelance Writer, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management Consultant.