Counties

Inter-county train charges go up 30 per cent from April 1

maina

Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina. file PHOTO | NMG

Inter-county train service charges on the Madaraka Express between Mombasa and Nairobi are expected to go up from April 1.

Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina said the charges will be adjusted by about 30 per cent and approved by the Transport Ministry.

The inter-county train makes a five-minute stop in Athi River, Emali, Kibwezi, Mtito Andei, Voi, and Maisenyi and arrives in Mombasa after five-and a-half hours.

“ We are set to increase the inter-county train charges on the standard gauge rail train come April 1 by about 30 per cent.” Mr Maina said.

“We are waiting for approvals from the Transport ministry which should be out by next month. As soon as we get them, we will do adjustments across the board.”

The inter-county  service trains which was launched two months ago to supplement the Nairobi-Mombasa route has been charging Sh50 from Mombasa to Mariakani, Sh230 from Voi to Kibwezi, Sh130 from Athi River to Emali, Sh510 from Nairobi to Voi and Sh400 from Emali to Maisenyi on economy class coaches.

On first class, passenger have been paying Sh140 from Mombasa to Mariakani, Sh920 from Voi to Kibwezi, Sh660 from Athi River to Emali, Sh2,130 from Nairobi to Voi and Sh1,670 from Emali to Maisenyi.

However, matatus plying the Mombasa-Voi route have been charging Sh300, Sh100 from Mariakani to Mombasa and Sh700 from Nairobi to Voi.

READ: Sh700 SGR fare offer ends next year

Plans by KR to adjust charges on the inter-county train comes barely a few days after the State corporation announced plans to revise the promotional fares on the train christened Madaraka Express between Nairobi and Mombasa.

Under the new tariff expected to be operational come April, passenger on economy coaches will be paying Sh500 more from the current promotion rate of Sh700.

The Sh3,000 fare for first class passengers will, however, remain the same in the new fares regime that has been praised by bus owners along the same route.

Advance booking, which is also available online, can remain open for up to 30 days.