Towards the end of 2020, the government unveiled a new look of the modernised Nairobi central railway station, introducing an integrated commuter rail system aimed at decongesting vehicular traffic. The Nairobi Commuter Rail Service which also entails a ride to the JKIA is set to ease the movement of people within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area while providing an efficient and cost-friendly mass rapid transit transport.
Currently, the 10 stations in Nairobi have commuter rails service and will be served by modern trains also known as DMUs (Diesel Multiple Units). New stations include; Umoja, Donholm, Buruburu, Githurai and Pipeline.
Kenya Railways has also introduced a night train. Here are the details – The Kenya Railways Night SGR Train From Nairobi To Mombasa & Here Is What You Need To Know
The DMUs commuter trains and link trains will transverse through these five estates operating on a fixed schedule across Nairobi.
Embakasi
The timelines are as follows for the 6 trains departing from Nairobi central station to Embakasi village terminus.
DMU commuter train | Nairobi
Arrival |
Makadara
(Arrival Departure) |
Donholm
(Arrival Departure) |
Pipeline
(Arrival Departure) |
Embakasi Village Terminus
Arrival |
Train 1 | 07:20 hrs | 07:30 hrs
07:32 hrs |
07:36 hrs
07:38 hrs |
07:42 hrs
07:44 hrs |
07:52 hrs |
Train 2 | 09:30 hrs | 09:42 hrs
09:45 hrs |
09:49 hrs
09:51 hrs |
09:55 hrs
09:57 hrs |
10:05 hrs |
Train 3 | 11:20 hrs | 11:30 hrs
11:32 hrs |
11:38 hrs
11:40 hrs |
11:44 hrs
11:46 hrs |
11:54 hrs |
Train 4 | 13:30 hrs | 13:42 hrs
13:44 hrs |
13:48 hrs
13:50 hrs |
13:54 hrs
13:56 hrs |
14:04 hrs |
Train 5 | 18:00 hrs | 18:12 hrs
18:14 hrs |
18:22 hrs
18:24 hrs |
18:32 hrs
18:34 hrs |
18:45 hrs |
Train 6 | 18:30 hrs | 18:42 hrs
18:44 hrs |
18:48 hrs
18:50 hrs |
18:54 hrs
18:56 hrs |
19:04 hrs |
The Nairobi Commuter Rail Service to JKIA journey combines rail and road services for users going to and coming from the airport. Thus, it entails a ride on the DMU train up to Embakasi Village station, then a BRT (bus rapid transport) bus ride to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This will cost you Ksh. 500.
- Embakasi Village to Nairobi Central Station.
On the other hand, there are 7 trains departing Embakasi Village each day to Nairobi Central Station. Below are the timelines.
Embakasi village
Arrival |
Pipeline
(Arrival Departure) |
Donholm
(Arrival Departure) |
Makadara
(Arrival Departure) |
Nairobi
Arrival |
|
DMU |
06:29 hrs |
06:33 hrs
06:35 hrs |
06:39 hrs
06:41 hrs |
06:53 hrs | |
Commuter train | 07:00 hrs | 07:08 hrs
07:10 hrs |
07:18 hrs
07:20 hrs |
07:28 hrs
07:30 hrs |
07:42 hrs |
DMU | 08:00 hrs | 08:08 hrs
08:10 hrs |
08:14 hrs
08:16 hrs |
08:20 hrs
08:22 hrs |
08:34 hrs |
DMU | 10:15 hrs | 10:23 hrs
10:25 hrs |
10:29 hrs
10:31 hrs |
10:35 hrs
10:37 hrs |
10:49 hrs |
DMU | 12:10 hrs | 12:18 hrs
12:20 hrs |
12:24 hrs
12:26 hrs |
12:30 hrs
12:32 hrs |
12:44 hrs |
DMU | 14:20 | 14:28 hrs
14:30 hrs |
14:34 hrs
14:36 hrs |
14:40 hrs
14:42 hrs |
14:54 hrs |
DMU | 19:15 hrs | 19:23 hrs
19:25 hrs |
19:29 hrs
19:31 hrs |
19:35 hrs
19:37 hrs |
19:49 hrs |
Syokimau
- Nairobi Central Station to Syokimau
6 modern trains leave the Nairobi Central Station for Syokimau through the day. The timelines are as follows.
DMU commuter train | Nairobi
Arrival |
Makadara
(Arrival Departure) |
Imara Daima
(Arrival Departure) |
Terminus
(Arrival Departure) |
Syokimau
Arrival |
DMU or Link 1 | 06:35 hrs | 06:47 hrs
06:49 hrs |
06:57 hrs
06:59 hrs |
07:03 hrs
07:05 hrs |
07:10 hrs |
DMU | 08:00 hrs | 08:12 hrs
08:14 hrs |
08:22 hrs
08:24 hrs |
08:32 hrs
08:34 hrs |
08:39 hrs |
DMU | 09:35 hrs | 09:47 hrs
09:49 hrs |
09:57 hrs
10:01 hrs |
10:05 hrs
10:07 hrs |
10:12 hrs |
DMU or Link 2 | 12:00 hrs | 12:12 hrs
12:14 hrs |
12:22 hrs
12:24 hrs |
12:28 hrs
12:30 hrs |
12:35 hrs |
Commuter train | 17:30 hrs | 17:42 hrs
17:44 hrs |
17:56 hrs
17:58 hrs |
18:06 hrs
18:08 hrs |
18:13 hrs |
DMU | 18:20 hrs | 18:32 hrs
18:34 hrs |
18:42 hrs
18:44 hrs |
18:48 hrs
18:50 hrs |
18:55 hrs |
Link trains operate between Nairobi central station and Nairobi terminus.
- Syokimau Station to Nairobi Central Station
The schedule for the modern train/DMUs leaving Syokimau station to Nairobi central station is as follows.
Syokimau
Arrival |
Terminus
(Arrival Departure) |
Imara Daima
(Arrival Departure) |
Makadara
(Arrival Departure) |
Nairobi
Arrival |
|
Commuter train | 06:20 hrs | 06:25 hrs
06:27 hrs |
06:35 hrs
06:37 hrs |
06:49 hrs
06:51 hrs |
06:53 hrs |
DMU | 07:15 hrs | 07:20 hrs
07:22 hrs |
07:26 hrs
07:28 hrs |
07:36 hrs
07:38 hrs |
07:50 hrs |
DMU | 08:50 hrs | 08:55 hrs
08:57 hrs |
09:01 hrs
09:03 hrs |
09:11 hrs
09:13 hrs |
09:25 hrs |
DMU | 10:40 hrs | 10:45 hrs
10:47 hrs |
10:51 hrs
10:53 hrs |
11:01 hrs
11:03 hrs |
11:15 hrs |
DMU or Link 1 | 14:30 hrs | 14:35 hrs
14:37 hrs |
14:45 hrs
14:47 hrs |
14:59 hrs
15:01 hrs |
15:13 hrs |
DMU or Link 2 | 20:20 hrs | 20:32 hrs
20:34 hrs |
20:46 hrs
20:48 hrs |
21:00 hrs |
Kahawa West
- Kahawa west to Nairobi Central station
Kahawa west
(Departure) |
Githurai
(Arrival Departure) |
Mwiki
(Arrival Departure) |
Dandora
(Arrival Departure) |
Makadara
(Arrival Departure) |
Nairobi
(Arrival) |
|
Commuter train | 09:00 hrs | 09:08 hrs
09:10 hrs |
09:18 hrs
09:20 hrs |
09:34 hrs
09:36 hrs |
09:57 hrs
09:59 hrs |
10:15 hrs |
- Nairobi central station to Kahawa west station
The commuter train rain arrives in the Nairobi Terminus at 8:00 am Below is the schedule.
Nairobi
Arrival |
Makadara
Arrival |
Dandora
Arrival |
Mwiki
Arrival |
Githurai
Arrival |
Kahawa west
Arrival |
|
Commuter train | 08:00 hrs | 08:12 hrs | 08:28 hrs | 08:42 hrs | 08:49 hrs | 08:55 hrs |
Athi River
- The new Athi river train schedule
As of November, residents could take the train from Athi River to the CBD and back. However, later in the month, the Athi River train schedule was revised and the new timelines are as follows.
Kikuyu
- Nairobi central station to Kikuyu station
Nairobi
Departure |
Kibera
Arrival Departure |
Dagoretti
Arrival Departure |
Kikuyu
Arrival |
|
Commuter train | 17:35 hrs | 18:00 hrs
18:02 hrs |
18:37 hrs
18:39 hrs |
19:10 hrs |
- Kikuyu station to Nairobi
The Commuter train departs from Kikuyu as detailed below:
Kikuyu
Departure |
Dagoretti
Arrival Departure |
Kibera
Arrival Departure |
Nairobi
Arrival |
|
Commuter train | 06:00 hrs | 06:35 hrs
06:37 hrs |
07:02 hrs
07:04 hrs |
07:30 hrs |
Ruiru
- Nairobi central station to Ruiru
The train travelling from Nairobi central station to Ruiru departs Nairobi at 17:40 hrs and arrives at Ruiru – the fina stop – at 19:10 hrs. Below is the schedule.
- Ruiru to Nairobi central station
The train from Ruiru takes one 1hour 35 minutes to arrive at Nairobi CBD. It leaves at 6:00 a.m and arrives at 7:35 a.m. Check below for other timelines.
A few pointers to note;
- A ride on the modern train also known as the DMU is priced at Ksh100 to every destination
- Link trains operate between Nairobi central station and Nairobi terminus.
- Every passenger must adhere to the COVID-19 rules otherwise they will not be allowed in the train.
- Kikuyu, Athi-river, Kahawa west and Ruiru have one commuter train travelling to/from the CBD to the distinct destinations.
- The commuter trains have cyclist provisions on board allowing road users to continue the rest of their journey with their preferred mode of transport.
The commuter rails passengers will also have access to the SGR railway line, the Nairobi terminus and the Ongata Rongai railway station.
The SGR
SGR updated its train schedule, making some changes on the Madaraka Express, the train from Nairobi to Mombasa. SGR schedule is as indicated below. Travel: How To Book The SGR Madaraka Express Train
Train | Destination | Departure (New) | Arrival (New) |
Morning SGR Express Train | Nairobi – Mombasa
Mombasa – Nairobi |
08:00 hrs
08:00 hrs |
13:15 hrs
13:05 hrs |
Afternoon SGR Express Train | Nairobi – Mombasa
Mombasa – Nairobi |
14:15 hrs
14:15 hrs |
19:30 hrs
19:20 hrs |
Inter-county train schedule | Nairobi – Mombasa
Mombasa – Nairobi |
08:00 hrs
08:00 hrs |
14:00hrs
14:10 hrs |
You can book the tickets 60 days in advance, although when it comes to group bookings, for more than 20 passengers, you need to book officially 30 days in advance. Options to book the SGR remain either via USSD or online. Prices remain unaltered. Here is where to book.
Alongside the commuter railway system, President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the Kenya Railways Transit Shed. The transit shed will facilitate seamless transportation, reduce the cost for small scale traders and provide a facility where traders can self-clear their cargo within a day if coming from Mombasa.
We have stepped into the festivities and even though the travelling experience might be different due to the COVID-19 crisis, it is inevitable. Therefore, to travel safely ensuring that you and your loved ones are protected, be sure to follow the COVID-19 regulations.
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