Kenya Railways nears completion of Sh4.2 billion Mombasa SGR terminus, 26km city link line
Once operational, the upgraded line will enable Madaraka Express passengers and users of all seven SGR stations in Mombasa to reach the central business district directly through the refurbished metre gauge railway.
The Kenya Railways Corporation is set to complete the Sh4.2 billion Mombasa SGR terminus and a 26-kilometre link line that will connect the Madaraka Express to the Mombasa Central Railway Station.
The project, which commenced in September 2022, experienced delays due to land acquisition challenges. To address this, the Ministry of Transport allocated Sh1.1 billion to the National Land Commission to fast-track compensation and facilitate the rehabilitation of the metre gauge railway (MGR) to Miritini.
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Once operational, the upgraded line will allow passengers using the Madaraka Express and all seven SGR stations within Mombasa to access the central business district directly via the refurbished MGR line.
The project includes major works such as the renovation of the historic Mombasa Central Station and the establishment of four commuter mini-stations at Miritini, Shimanzi, Changamwe East and Changamwe West.
A pedestrian bridge will also link the SGR and MGR platforms, while a 480-metre railway bridge will span the Makupa Causeway.
The development also features a locomotive turntable.
“This terminus is now connected to the island through a 26-kilometre railway line that we have completed. I also want to invite Kenyans to see the volumes of cargo we are moving every day from the port of Mombasa,” said Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga.
He noted that the corporation had rebranded and remained competitive, urging more people to embrace rail travel.
A section of the 26-kilometre link line connecting the Mombasa SGR terminus and the Mombasa Central Railway Station. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)
The commuter service forms part of the wider Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT) that includes the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), aimed at easing congestion and improving travel efficiency.
During a visit to mark eight years of the SGR’s operation, National Assembly Transport Committee Chairperson Raphael Wanjala expressed satisfaction with Kenya Railways’ freight and passenger operations.
“They are not making any loss as Kenyans have believed. They are doing very well, and we have only three years to go before the repayment of the loan we took from the People’s Republic of China,” he said.
He also dismissed claims that the port of Mombasa was mortgaged for the SGR project.
“KRC stands on its own and it has its own money and it’s repaying its loans without any problems,” he said.
Since its launch, the SGR has transported more than 15.3 million passengers and 39.78 million tonnes of cargo.
Wanjala urged the corporation to increase the number of daily trains from 14 to 18 to boost trade and improve connectivity to landlocked countries in the region.
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