Nairobi to Mombasa Train Booking for US Visitors

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KENYA · TRAVEL

The Nairobi to Mombasa train is a cheap way to cross southern Kenya, and seats for Christmas week are already on sale. The economy fare is KSh 1,500 (about US$11.55).

Kenya Railways, the state-owned railway company, sells the service as the Madaraka Express. This guide covers the fares, the payment catch for foreign visitors and the booking dates before the December holidays.

What the Madaraka Express Is

The Nairobi to Mombasa train is run by Kenya Railways on its modern standard gauge line. It links the capital with the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa every day in both directions.

Kenya Railways lists three departures from each end, at 8:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. daily. The morning Inter-County train stops at seven stations, while the Express and the night train stop only at Voi.

Kenya Railways’ schedule file puts the morning run at about six hours and the afternoon Express at about five and a half. Check the running time when you book, because the file carries no start date.

Fares and Classes in US Dollars

The official fare sheet lists three classes for Nairobi to Mombasa: Economy at 1,500, First at 4,500 and Premium at 12,000. At the rate of 129.90 Kenyan shillings to the dollar, that is about US$11.55, US$34.64 and US$92.38 one way.

A Premium return ticket is listed at 20,000 shillings (about US$153.96). The amounts are in Kenyan shillings, the same currency as the railway’s overnight parking fee of KSh 200 (US$1.54).

Children aged 11 and under pay at most half fare, and children aged 12 and over pay the full adult fare. The youngest travel free, but the railway’s pages differ on whether a three-year-old pays, so confirm at the counter.

How to Book and Pay

Kenya Railways sells Nairobi to Mombasa train tickets online at metickets.krc.co.ke, at station counters and by phone menu code *639# on the Safaricom network. Booking offices are open from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and one online booking covers up to 10 people.

Payment is the catch for visitors booking the Nairobi to Mombasa train. The railway’s FAQ says cards are not accepted at present, and payment goes through M-Pesa, the mobile money service of the telecom company Safaricom.

An M-Pesa account normally needs a Kenyan SIM card and a registered phone. Without one, ask your hotel or a Kenyan contact to pay, or ask at a station counter what it accepts.

Why to Book Early for the December Holidays

Tickets can be bought up to 60 days ahead, so the sales window moves forward by one day every day. On Saturday 31 October it reaches Wednesday 30 December.

By that count, seats for Christmas Eve on Thursday 24 December opened on Sunday 25 October. New Year’s Eve on Thursday 31 December opens on Sunday 1 November, and Friday 1 January opens on Monday 2 November.

Kenya’s independence holiday falls on Saturday 12 December this year, and families head to the coast then and at Christmas. Book the day your date opens if you need a specific train.

Kenya Railways does not publish how full each December train is. Check seat availability online or on the phone menu before you pay.

At the Station and on Board

Arrive at least 60 minutes before departure for document and security checks. Boarding closes 11 minutes before the train leaves, and the platform gates close at 10 minutes.

Each passenger may carry luggage up to 30 kilograms and one metre by one metre by one metre. The railway says original ID is needed at the counter and for the journey itself, so carry your passport.

Tickets cannot be passed to another person, and pets are not allowed. Print your ticket at a self-service machine in the station, or show the QR code, a square barcode, on your phone at the gate scanner.

Changes and Refunds

Individual tickets must be cancelled or rescheduled at least 48 hours before departure, in person at a station with original ID. A cancellation costs 30 percent of the fare, and a reschedule costs 10 percent, both paid in cash.

Cancelled seats go back on public sale after 30 minutes. If the Nairobi to Mombasa train you want looks full, keep checking online because seats can reappear.

What It Means for You

For a US visitor the train is a cheap way to cross the plains between Nairobi and the coast. An economy seat costs less than US$12 one way.

Sort out M-Pesa or a helper before you land, and budget extra for the taxi to the station. Kenya also requires an electronic travel authorisation, or eTA, before departure, which our guide to the Kenya eTA and travel insurance rules explains.

Safety and Practical Tips

The US State Department’s Kenya advisory says to exercise increased caution because of crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping. It marks the Somalia border counties and some coastal areas Do Not Travel, so read the current text before you plan the coast leg.

Keep bags with you on the Nairobi to Mombasa train and avoid showing phones and cameras on the platform. Our guide to safety for expats in Kenya covers road and crime risks in more detail.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

Kenya Railways does not say how a foreign visitor books online without a Kenyan phone number. The FAQ names only original ID and a passenger ID number printed on the ticket.

The fare sheet has no effective date and prints no currency label, and the schedule file has no start date. We found no notice about extra festive trains or changed fares for the Nairobi to Mombasa train in December 2026.

What to Read Next

For dated events you can reach by train, see our Kenya events and holidays calendar for November and December. Our guide to Kenya’s holidays in December lists the public days when trains fill up.

If you plan a coastal stop, read our guide to the Mombasa Carnival on Moi Avenue. Our Nairobi city page covers the capital where the journey starts.

More: Kenya news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Nairobi to Mombasa train for Americans?

The official fare sheet lists Economy at 1,500 shillings (about US$11.55) and First at 4,500 shillings (about US$34.64). Premium is 12,000 shillings (about US$92.38), and the sheet shows no separate foreigner price.

Can I pay for the train with a US credit card?

Not at present, according to the official FAQ, which says cards are not accepted. Payment goes through M-Pesa mobile money, so ask a Kenyan contact or check the station counter.

How far ahead can I book the train for Christmas?

Kenya Railways sells tickets up to 60 days ahead. Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December, opened on Sunday 25 October, and New Year’s Eve opens on Sunday 1 November.

Sources: Kenya Railways, passenger service pages: FAQ, fare sheet (PDF) and train schedule (PDF) for the Nairobi to Mombasa route, accessed 31 October 2026; Kenya Railways, online ticket booking site (departure times, cancellation rules), accessed 31 October 2026; US Department of State, Kenya travel advisory, accessed 31 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief