The National Commuter Rail service is part of the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Master Plan that is committed to providing highly accessible and reliable rail transport to the residents and visitors of Nairobi. Phase 1 of the project involved commuter rail services between the Nairobi Railway Station, Embakasi village,Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kikuyu, Ruiru, and Syokimau.
Phase 2 will extend the commuter services to Limuru, Lukenya and Thika, while phase 3 includes routes such as Kangemi, Kiambu, Kiserian, Ngong, Ongata Rongai and Ruai. The ongoing upgrade and development of new stations at Donholm, Buru Buru, Umoja, Pipeline and Githurai are all part of a larger plan to decongest the city by improving public transportation.
NCR Service Routes and Stations
NCR Commuter Trains operate between Nairobi Central Station and the following stations: So far, a number of the routes in the Nairobi commuter railway projects have been completed and are operational. These include Dandora, Githurai, Imara Daima, Kahawa, Kibera, Makadara, Mwiki, Ruiru and Syokimau. There are 4 main lines with various intermediate stops. These are;
- Ruiru-Nairobi line with Kahawa, Githurai, Mwiki, Maili Saba, Dandora, S. Mtwinda and Makadara as intermediate stops
- Embakasi village-Nairobi line with Aviation, Taj Mall, Avenue Park, Pipeline, Quarry, Donholm and Makadara as intermediate stops.
- Kikuyu-Nairobi line with Thogoto, Dagoretti Station, Limuru, Dagoretti, Kikuyu, Kibera, Lenana, Satellite, Kibera, Gatwekera, Mashomoni and Laini Saba as intermediate stops.
- Syokimau-Nairobi line, with Imara and Makadara as intermediate stops.
- Nairobi Central Station-Athi River/Lukenya route stations are Lukenya, Athi River, Mlolongo, Embakasi, Imara Daima and Makadara.
You can catch the train from the Nairobi Central Station at 0545 hrs, 1330 hrs and 2000 hrs to Embakasi Village station, then board the NCR buses into the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Kikuyu Station to Nairobi Central Station
– Departure (Kikuyu Station): 06:00 AM
- Dagoretti Train Station: 06:35 AM
- Kibera Train Station: 07:02 AM
– Arrival (Nairobi Central Station): 07:35 AM
Nairobi Central Station to Kikuyu Station
– Departure (Nairobi Central Station): 5:35 PM
- Kibera Train Station: 6:00 PM
- Dagoretti Train Station: 6:37 PM
– Arrival (Kikuyu Station): 7:10 PM
Embakasi Village to Nairobi Central Station
– Departure (Embakasi Village): 07:00 AM
- Pipeline: 07:08 AM
- Donholm: 07:18 AM
- Makadara: 07:28 AM
– Arrival (Nairobi Central Station): 07:42 AM
Nairobi Central Station to Embakasi Village
– Departure (Nairobi Central Station): 6:00 PM
- Makadara: 6:12 PM
- Donholm: 6:22 PM
- Pipeline: 6:32 PM
– Arrival (Embakasi Village): 6:45 PM
Nairobi Central Station to Kahawa West Station
– Departure (Nairobi Central Station): 08:00 AM
- Makadara: 08:12 AM
- Dandora: 08:28 AM
- Mwiki: 08:42 AM
- Githurai: 08:49 AM
– Arrival (Kahawa West Station): 08:55 AM
Kahawa West Station to Nairobi Central Station
– Departure (Kahawa West Station): 09:00 AM
- Githurai: 09:08 AM
- Mwiki: 09:18 AM
- Dandora: 09:34 AM
- Makadara: 09:57 AM
– Arrival (Nairobi Central Station): 10:15 AM
Ruiru Station to Nairobi Central Station
– Departure (Ruiru Station): 06:00 AM
- Kahawa West: 06:25 AM
- Githurai: 06:35 AM
- Mwiki: 06:45 AM
- Dandora: 07:01 AM
- Makadara: 07:20 AM
– Arrival (Nairobi Central Station): 07:35 AM
Nairobi Central Station to Ruiru Station
– Departure (Nairobi Central Station): 5:40 PM
- Makadara: 5:53 PM
- Dandora: 6:16 PM
- Mwiki: 6:36 PM
- Githurai: 6:46 PM
- Kahawa West: 18:56 PM
– Arrival (Ruiru Station): 7:10 PM
Syokimau Station to Nairobi Central Station
– Departure (Syokimau Station): 06:20 AM
- Nairobi SGR Terminus: 06:25 AM
- Imara Daima: 06:35 AM
- Makadara: 06:49 AM
– Arrival (Nairobi Central Station): 06:53 AM
Nairobi Central Station to Syokimau Station
– Departure (Nairobi Central Station): 5:30 PM
- Makadara: 5:42 PM
- Imara Daima: 5:56 PM
- Nairobi SGR Terminus: 6:06 PM
– Arrival (Syokimau Station): 6:13 PM
Nairobi Commuter Rail Service Trains Charges
Note that the prices below are subject to change depending on the time and routine reviews by Kenya Railways.
- Kikuyu to Nairobi/Nairobi to Kikuyu – Ksh 60
- Dagoretti, Kibera, Nyayo to Nairobi – Ksh 50
- Ruiru to Nairobi – Ksh 70
- Kahawa, Githurai, Mwiki, Dandora to Nairobi – Ksh 50
- Embakasi village to Nairobi/Nairobi to Embakasi village – Ksh 50
- Through Kabazora, Pipeline, Donholm, Makadara, Makongeni to Nairobi – Ksh 40
- Syokimau to Nairobi – Ksh 60
- Imara to Nairobi-Ksh. 50
- Makadara to Nairobi -Ksh 50
Source:https://twendesasa.com/nairobi-commuter-rail-service-trains-schedule-and-fare/
Kenya Railway Corporation Contacts
Phone 1: 0709 388 887 (Madaraka Express Passenger Service inquiries, complaints, lost and found)
Phone 2: 0709 388 888 (Madaraka Express Passenger Service bookings)
Phone 3: 0709 907 000 (Kenya Railways Headquarters customer care)
Email: info@krc.co.ke