Kenya Railways Adds Kisumu, Nanyuki Trains, Changes Schedules

There will be two trains plying the Nairobi-Kisumu route and two plying the reverse Kisumu-Nairobi route

Kenya Railways Adds Kisumu, Nanyuki Trains, Changes Schedules
Kenya Railways station at Dandora, Nairobi. /FILE

The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has increased the number of trains plying the Nairobi to Kisumu and Nairobi to Nanyuki routes in anticipation of huge human traffic consisting of those travelling for the festive season.

According to the new schedules released on Wednesday, December 21, there will be two trains plying the Nairobi-Kisumu route and two plying the reverse Kisumu-Nairobi route on Thursday, December 22.

The first will leave Nairobi at 6.30 pm and arrive in Kisumu at 6.30 am while the second will leave at 8 pm and arrive at 8 am. The timings are the same for the reverse trip.

Inside a Nairobi-Kisumu train. /KENYA RAILWAYS

The corporation had estimated that each of the trains will take 12 hours per trip between the two cities.

The next trains leaving the capital will depart on Friday, December 23 at 6:30 pm, 8:00 pm and 9:30 pm and arrive at the Lakeside city at 6.30 am, 8.00 am and 9.30 am.

A special train will leave Kisumu for Nairobi on Sunday, December 25 (Christmas Day) at 6.30 pm due to public demand, and arrive at 6.30 am. The times will also apply for the single train on Saturday, December 24 and Monday, December 26.

On December 30, two trains were slated to travel to Kisumu at 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm respectively while there will be one train for the reverse route at 6.30 pm on January 1 and January 2, 2023. There will also be a 6.30 pm train on January 6, 2023, leaving for Kisumu and one on January 8, 2023, leaving Kisumu for Nairobi.

There will also be train services to Nanyuki that will depart Nairobi on December 23, 30 and January 6, 2023. Two trains will leave Nairobi for Nanyuki at 9.00 am and 10.30 am respectively and arrive at 4.35 pm and 6.15 pm respectively.

There will be a train leaving Nanyuki for Nairobi on December 25 at 9.00 am and arriving at 4.25 pm as well as one on December 26 at 10.30 am and arriving at 5.55 pm.

The trains will depart Nanyuki also on January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2023, at 9.00 am and 10.30 am respectively and arrive at 4.25 pm and 5.55 pm respectively. One train will leave Nanyuki for Nairobi on January 8, 2023, at 9.00 am and arrive at 4.25 pm.

“We have added more trains to take you Dala (Kisumu) and Nanyuki!,” Kenya Railways stated.

In their price list, Kenya Railways maintained that it will cost one Ksh600 for economy class and Ksh2,000 for first class, for the trip between Nairobi and Kisumu.

For the journey between Nairobi and Nanyuki, it will cost Ksh200 for economy class and Ksh1,000 for first class.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen ordered for more trains to be added to the route as buses, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line and local airlines have had their trips fully booked.

"We will also be working to restore passenger trains along the old Metre Gauge Railway routes. Further, we will be increasing the number of wagons and coaches, which, together with the old wagons and coaches that are currently being revamped at our Nairobi workshops," the CS revealed.

A majority of the buses were revealed to be charging between Ksh1,400 to Ksh2,500 while local airlines were revealed to have hiked their prices for tickets.

DP Gachagua speaking during the flagging off of the Mombasa to Dubai direct flights on December 15, 2022. /FACEBOOK.RIGATHI GACHAGUA