Commuters using the Madaraka Express Passenger Service train to Mombasa will soon start using an interlink train to access the Central Business District (CBD) of the coastal town.
In a statement on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, Kenya Railways announced that it was at an advanced stage of launching the line which will help reduce the commuting burden.
This was made public during the official visit by Philip J. Mainga, Kenya Railways Director, at the facility to take stock of the rehabilitation project.
“Train users travelling to and from Mombasa via the Madaraka Express Passenger Service are set to begin enjoying a smooth and easy connection to and from Mombasa CBD. This will be via the Link train that is set to commence operations between Mombasa Terminus and Mombasa Railway station in the Coastal town’s CBD soon,” Kenya Railways said in a statement.
“Kenya Railways Managing Director toured the Mombasa Terminus to Mombasa Railway station corridor on February 4, 2025. The project which is set to come into operation in the near future is at an advanced stage of construction,” KR added.
According to Mainga, the interlink train will help spur tourism and drive business in the coastal town and its surrounding areas.
“We are looking to operationalize the Link train for Mombasa County soon. Once operational, residents, tourists and train enthusiasts to Mombasa will use the Link train. This train will ease access to not only Mombasa Terminus and Mombasa CBD but also the areas in between these destinations”, he said.
Currently, travellers still have to rely on taxis and matatus. Some commuters have lamented over being charged expensively to access Mombasa CBD from the SGR terminus.
The entire Link line is 17 kilometres. It includes the construction of new MGR passenger stations at Mombasa Terminus, Miritini, Changamwe West, Changamwe East, Shimanzi and the Mombasa Central Station.
Completion date extended
In April 2024, Kenya Railways had revealed plans to operationalise the line by May 31, 2024.
In response to queries by Kenyans, Kenya Railways indicated that the construction of the interlink connecting the SGR Mombasa Terminus to the Mombasa Old Town was in top gear.
According to the plan, the interconnecting line is a Meter Guage Railway (MGR) line.
“Great news. The SGR-MGR link project in Mombasa is on track to be completed by May 31, 2024. This will significantly improve commuter rail services to Mombasa terminus, making travel much easier,” the report read in part.
