Kenya Railways has commissioned its express service to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport which is expected to ease travelers burden as construction peaks along Mombasa Road.
The commissioning of the JKIA Express Service comes nearly a month after Diesel Multiple-Units (DMUs) began to ply key routes in Nairobi.
“This is how an integrated city transit system should work. With this we want to ensure that both locals and visitors can enjoy the city and what it has to offer with that ease of mind that they will go to the airport hassle free,” said Transport CS James Macharia.
According to Kenya railways, the the train will take 20 mins from the central station to the Embakasi station and a further 10 mins connection using the Bus Rapid Transport system to JKIA. The plan is expected to become competitive especially with the ongoing construction of an express way that has seen motorists spend long hours on Mombasa Road between the JKIA turnoff and Waiyaki Way.
Travel cost
The train fares however will vary. An express trip which takes 32 minutes minutes from the central station to the Embakasi station with no stops in-between and a further connection to the BRT, it will cost Sh.500. Regular train on the other hand with several stops before getting to the final station will cost you Sh.100 with an extra Ksh.40 for the BRT to the airport terminal.
“This service will have options depending on how fast you want to get to the airport. There have been a lot of issues with the ongoing road construction..some individuals have even missed their flights,” said Philip Mainga, the Kenya Railways MD.
Mainga noted that since President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the DMUs, they have ferried more than 200,000 passengers. According to him, with 6 more DMUs expected to land in the country by end of January next year, he anticipates that this number will double.
