The Standard Gauge Railway isn’t the fastest means of transportation in Kenya. But it has improved into a comfortable and convenient means of travel. And the SGR train schedule now makes it easier to book a seat from the comfort of your home.
The SGR train schedule lets you know when a train leaves from one terminal and arrives at the next. By knowing the schedule and price, you are able to book and pay for your travel in a way that’s more convenient for you.
From my travel experience, the SGR is an upgraded means of travel, a more convenient replacement for the older meter gauge railways.
SGR Sections
The SGR system consists of several sections. The table below shows all the sections.
| SGR Sections | Distances | |
| 1. | Mombasa to Nairobi | 609 Kilometers |
| 2. | Nairobi to Naivasha | 120 Kilometers |
| 3. | Naivasha to Kisumu | 267 Kilometers |
| 4. | Kisumu to Malaba | 130 Kilometers |
| 5. | Lamu to Lokichar-Nakodok | 1,500 Kilometers |
| 6. | Nairobi to Moyale | 700 Kilometers |
| 7. | Naivasha to Lokichar | 460 Kilometers |
Note that these sections are either finished, under construction, or planned.
GIFT!– Get a Free Personal Finance Guide from our friend centwarrior.com. Cent Warrior is a tribe of non-conforming financial warriors promoting a generation that’s financially free and debt free. They have developed a wonderful free personal finance guide (Click Link to download) that you’ll find helpful in planning your finances and avoiding debt in general. We really hope that you’ll find it worthwhile to start building a solid foundation towards your financial freedom. Check them out here on social media.
SGR Train Schedule and Prices
Inter County and Express trains run throughout the week in both directions and their schedules never change.
Here are two schedules for Mombasa to Nairobi and Nairobi to Mombasa:
1. SGR train schedule from Mombasa to Nairobi
| Type of Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Prices | |
| 1. | Inter Country Train | 8 am | 2 pm | KES 1,000 economic, KES. 3,000 First Class |
| 2. | Express Train | 3 pm | 8.10 pm | KES 1,000 economic, KES. 3,000 First Class |
| 3. | Express Night Train | 10 pm | 3.30 am | KES 1,000 economic, KES. 3,000 First Class |
2. SGR schedule from Nairobi to Mombasa
| Type of Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Prices | |
| 1. | Inter Country Train | 8 am | 2 pm | KES 1,000 economic, KES. 3,000 First Class |
| 2. | Express Train | 3pm | 8.10 pm | KES 1,000 economic, KES. 3,000 First Class |
| 3. | Express Night Train | 10pm | 3.30 am | KES 1,000 economic, KES. KES 1,000 economic, KES. 3,000 First Class |
Note that the inter County Trains leave the terminus two times a day and they make stops at Athi River, Emali, Kibwezi, Mtito Andei, Voi, Miaseny, and Mariakani.
3. Madaraka Express
We have two trains for the Madaraka Express schedule traveling from Mombasa to Nairobi and back.
Below is a timetable and schedule for the SRG Madaraka Express trains:
| Train | Route | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
| Madaraka Express Train #1 | Mombasa to Nairobi | 8 am | 2.10 pm |
| Madaraka Express Train # | Nairobi to Mombasa | 8 am | 2 pm |
Keep in mind that the trains are available for travel during the day and at night.
How Can I Check Availability of Seats in SGR?
To check the availability of a seat in SGR:
- Dial *639# on your Safaricom line.
- Alternatively, visit the Kenya Railways website and find a seat you may like to book.
If you would like to book a seat online through M-pesa, follow the simple steps provided below:
- Use your Safaricom line to dial *639#
Four options will come up on the screen. These are Inter County Express, Nairobi – Mombasa Express, Mombasa -Nairobi Express, and Suswa train.
- Choose the train you wish to board.
- Select your departure time, the day you would like to travel, your preferred class, and total number of passengers.
- Enter the number of children who are between 3 and 11
- Name gender ID/guardian id, and nationality, which you will use when collecting your ticket at the terminus.
- Choose the payment option you prefer and pay.
- Print your train ticket at the train station.
Please note this:
The first time I tried booking a seat on the train via the code I found 2pm train fully booked. I tried the second time and before I was done, the network was down. I tried the third time and it was successful.
Every time I dialed the code, I was being charged unknowingly. Safaricom was deducting Ksh. 1 each time I dialed the code.
So keep this in mind when booking for an SGR seat with your Safaricom line.
SGR Train Classes – Explained
There are two type of passenger sections in the SGR train.
There’s the economic section, which is the most affordable option for travelers on a budget. Then there’s the first class option, which costs twice as much as what you pay for the economy class.
All the seats in the first class section face forward and they are quite few. The seats on the economic class section face each other, and they are available in large numbers.
Also, the seats provided in the first class section feel so much comfortable while those in the economic section are not as comfortable.
Speaking of meals, travelers in the first class section can get in touch with the restaurant coach and get their meals served faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What time does SGR leave Nairobi to Mombasa?
The Standard Gauge Railway train will leave the Nairobi terminus for the Mombasa terminus at exactly 0800 hours.
The train is to be expected to approach Nairobi in 6 hours.
2. Does SGR travel at night?
The SGR does travel at night.
The night train from Mombasa to Nairobi leaves Mombasa at exactly 10 P.M and reaches Nairobi at around 4 A.M.
The largest number of passengers travelling from Mombasa to Nairobi flock in at 8 P.M for screening in adherence to the Covid-19 protocol before stepping foot the train.
Most people prefer travelling from Mombasa to Nairobi by train because it is cheaper than by buses or vans. You only pay Ksh. 1,000 for the economy seat.
Children aged 3 to 11 will pay half the mentioned price and the ones below 3 years will travel for free.
3. How Much is a First Class SGR Ticket?
As of the time of writing this post, a first class ticket for an adult on the standard gauge railway costs only KES. 3,000 while a first class ticket for a kid costs only KES. 1,500.
A baby on the other hand will enjoy the ride for free.
4. How Many Hours Does SGR Train Take from Mombasa to Nairobi?
The distance between Mombasa and Nairobi is about 480 Kilometers (298.3mi).
The train traveling to Nairobi from Mombasa leaves the station at exactly 8 in the morning and arrives at the Nairobi terminus at 2 in the afternoon.
It means that passengers spend 6 hours on the SGR train traveling from Mombasa to Nairobi.
Related
- Mash Poa Online Booking: Regional Routes and Fair Prices
- Your Guide to Simba Coach Online Booking
- Easy Coach Online Booking
Final Thoughts
The SGR transportation system isn’t available in all counties. But the government is planning to connect to all Kenyan cities, including Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru, and Kisumu.
What’s more?
There will come a time when you’ll be able to travel to and from Kenya to Uganda. And there’s a possibility that GSR will connect to South Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo from Uganda.