There’s been a lot of controversy about Kenya’s largest infrastructure project since independence, centred mostly around the Kshs327 billion price tag. I’m not here to throw my weight behind any of the arguments, but simply to show you what I saw when I took a ride from Nairobi to Mombasa.
It was on the invite of IMG Events & PR that I joined a select group of about 200 people made up mostly of people from Kenya’s Tourism Ministry on a test ride that would take us 472 kilometres to the coastal city of Mombasa. This was on 13th April 2017.
We gathered at the Nairobi Terminus in Embakasi, off the A104 along the Old Mombasa Road. The usual Mombasa Road traffic didn’t allow me to get there in time to capture the terminus in the glorious sunrise of the day.
Inside the terminal building, we found construction workers busy putting finishing touches to escalators and other fittings that you’d expect to find in a modern railway terminus.
On the platform, the train was ready for boarding. It was a long one. Around 800 metres in length! That reduced our journey to Mombasa to 471.2 kilometres!
First Class Seating.
Third Class Seating.
We set off at around 8.30am, with ushers like the one above asking us to mind our step as we boarded the train. We rode smoothly past the Nairobi National Park where we could spot some wildlife grazing peacefully, and into the Kapiti Plains where we began to appreciate the beauty of Kenya even more. Two short hours later, we were in Mtito Andei, our first stop for the day.
It was a 20-minute stop so before we could take in all the beauty of the station, the train driver honked for us to get back onboard.
A few minutes later, we were in Voi.
All the stations are designed differently. This one has the V-shape from Voi.
Riding through Tsavo National Park, we saw several elephants covered in the signature red Tsavo soils, grazing in large herds.
Shortly, we were finally in Mombasa!
After lunch at the terminus, we got back in the train and in four-and-a-half hours, we were back to Nairobi.
You can watch a vlog I did about my experience below.
Awesome captures!
looks good.pics are timam!ei mutua wsup man.longtime
I like the “gugu” when the old one used to depart lol…. such fond memories and good to note the difference with the much smoother start that you had with this new one 🙂
I like your** “gugu” when the old one used to depart lol…. such fond memories and good to note the difference with the much smoother start that you had with this new one
It was great riding with you. I look forward to the experience as well
I have followed your travel to Mombasa through the pictures very well! And it’s exciting!
However on closer scrutiny l wonder whether you’ve catered for persons with disability? Can l board the train with my wheelchair?
From what I saw, the trains and stations are wheelchair friendly.
The picture of the first class couch shows a very narrow path or corridor?
Are you sure l can wheelchair through this path to the loose?
That I’m not certain about. I can check during the next test ride and let you know.
Soooo good brother!
Love the Vlog, now I want to go for the train ride.
Lovely
Really well documented. Better than the SGR pics I’ve seen.Cant wait to go for that ride!
Thanks! You’ll enjoy the ride.
Hey bro, what’s the pricing?
No indication on prices yet.
Mwav,
Thanks for documenting this, its absolutely phenomenal..
Now, is there an indication of how much the rates for the train rides will be?
No indication on rates yet. We’re all waiting for those.
What am worried about is from the Mombasa terminal how do we get to town
The terminal is right next to the airport. Kenyans are enterprising. There’s bound to be matatus and shuttles to help get people to town.
Absolutely love it!!! Fantastic photos.
Thanks Ms Mollah!
This is a beauty..
Beautifully done. Can’t wait to embark on the train ride. The terminus are so modern. Someone would think you are in Europe not Kenya. Kudos to the architecture team(s)
It’s one more thing we can celebrate about Kenya.
Good work man.
Asante!
Great piece! Well done vlog!
Thanks Naomi!
this is quite amazing Sensei
Awesome pics
Let me get in touch with them and see how the train runs
Awesome!
It must have been a sweet ride
Yes it was. Very relaxing.
Super cool Mwarv
Superb job! How long was the ride to County 001?
Mombasa Nairobi took us 4.5 hours without stops
Did they mention proposed ticket prices for the different classes?
There’s a team working on ticket prices. They’re yet to be made public.
Excellent vlog and fantastic images!
I am definitely using train to mombasa soon, look amazing and very modern.
Wow,its wonderful oh my God, thanks to the Government for the great job
I just travelled to mombasa using this article.
#fan
The team marketing SGR should focus more on business travel, family and students. These are the regular travellers that will keep SGR going. Tourism is seasonal. There should be strong focus on pricing, scheduling and convenience.
Good point. I’ve asked them to check the comments here to get a feel of people’s mood towards the project.
Great work Kirubi and company.
Awesome Photos
Look exciting. Awsome pics,,I long to travel with my family and have the experience. My view is that, SGR should focus more on Kenyas. Other than tourists. As one of guys here said. Families,,students and business people travel alot. So its should more fun. Once on track,,,i will boycott air and buses for train.
“That reduced our journey to Mombasa to 471.2 kilometres” 😂😂 Good one.
Can you please give us more info on these things?:
Comfort level of the seats
How long the stop in Voi was
Exact journey times with and without stops
It was a test run so timings and stops weren’t scheduled. However, Mombasa to Nairobi took us 4.5 hours non stop. The seats are comfortable. And there’s space in the carriages so unlike a bus, one can walk around and stretch their legs.
Fantastique.Can’t wait for a ride.
Amazing and stunnings shots right there. You have a Great art of photography.Kudos!
Beautiful pictures Mwarv, we finally get to see the finished product.
Kudos to the development team, GoK.
Thanks Mwarv for the virtual tour.
You’re very welcome. I appreciate the kind words.
You are such a great photographer. Many thanks for sharing your story here.
Amazing captures Mwarv.
Absolutely beautiful! Well done GOK!
Great stuff! But a few things need clarifying- does the train have different classes? 1st, 2nd etc?
Does it have a restaurant wagon?
Lastly, i think the huge windows without any sort of sunshade is a big minus, unless they have some sort of UV protection.
Finally…seatbelts?
My dear…even the high speed trains in the uk don’t have seat belts! Trains are not like buses and airplanes
Wanjiku, I think your response to Jasminder is a bit heavy in tone because he just wants answers to some questions. I’ll answer what I know, and if you know more about the train, kindly share because I too would like to know. Cheers darl!:-)
Jasminder, there’s 1st class and Coach..no 2nd class. Restaurant wagon? – no clue, as regards the large windows and the sun? – no clue, However, I’m inclined to believe that this can easily be sorted out with curtains; If not already.
Sorry but US trains have seat belt
From past experiences in Europe(Switzerland, Portugal) Dubai, UAE I haven’t seen a train with seat belts so I’m sure the Kenyan SGR wouldn’t be an exception. Regarding the huge windows, most trains I have been are similar but have a layer to shield you from extreme heat but the trains themselves have air condition (don’t know about the SGR) maybe Mwarv can let us know!
The Kenyan SGR coaches are air conditioned so that should take care of excessive temperatures. I actually loved the large windows as they make it easy to sight see and give the coaches a roomy, airy feel.
Simply magnificent…congratulations UhuRuto for the wonderful modern railway which I understand can be up graded into an electric one.
Wow. This is just awesome. Well done. Now, where do the mainstream media usually get the urgly photos they always show to us?
Asante sana Mwarv for documenting your experience with such creative precision…those pics look futuristic, hard to believe its now accessible to us. Keep up the really awesome work sir!
Mwarv, as always great captures, precise, clean and magical just what i expected. That experience clearly allows the naysayers and optimists to shut up and enjoy the ride. #SGRWOKE
A step closer to not being a 3rd world country anymore!
Fantastic job with the photography.
I did notice though that you replayed the recording from the Nairobi terminal when you were in Voi – when you were running late..10mins to departure. Nonetheless, that won’t take the shine off this piece.
I share your concerns about maintenance of the interior. More likely than not, the nice interior of the trains will be short-lived. It Angers me that basic etiquette is a foreign concept here. Unless the government applies harsh penalties, these trains will end up looking the same as the ones at Railway station, only faster.
Do you mean the stop over from Nairobi is Mtoto wa ndei to Mombasa and from Mombasa to Nairobi is Voi, What happened to the rest of the stations which we had before like the Kenya Railways used to have?
Ours was a test ride. There’ll be other stops along the way.
Fascinating piece as always Mwarv!
You just convinced me to ride on the train…..
Our family enjoyed taking the NGR from Nairobi to Mombasa in the 1980s and 90s. That was fun, but the new SGR looks great. Love your pictures and video.
Any idea when the train services start?
No idea. The government seems tight lipped on that.
Great piece of info and lovely images. Looking forward to enjoy the ride once services start.
Boy, this is a great piece of work. You got the moves, keep it up.
I want to book for mombasa on 31 st May.we do I book for the Sgr ticket
Please check with Kenya Railways. Thanks.
This is awesome man; If at all this is real am on it on sarturday morning 3rd to Mombasa and Back on Sunday eve ready for Job on Monday At City Cabanas Nairobi.
Kenya’s economy has deteriorated as a result of this SGR.. everything is imported including Labour.. it’s a loan that I will pay plus my siblings.. please Kenya’s managers ..spare the SGR.. DON’T EAT IT TO GROUND.
I inquire for a vacancy in your firm (s g r) for maybe cleaning off loading and any other available
Hello Mwarv,
Your pictures are fantastic as usual Your skill with a camera is amazing. On SGR there have been sightings of the long curving bridges… did you take any shots?
May I copy and paste some pics to FB page of Kenyans in USA?
You can share the images. Additional ones will come once the go ahead is given to shoot them.
awesome pics!!!!! the most comprehensive i have seen so far…and the quality is great:)
beautiful pics, the termini look awesome. hope to catch b a ride soon on the train.
What kind of camera do you use coz your photos are just amazing. This is a project Kenyans should truly be proud of, leave alone the politics behind it. Good work
Images are shot on a Canon 6D and DJI Phantom 4 for the aerials. Yes, it’s a great project that many are beginning to take pride in.