SGR Online Booking – Madaraka Express Train Tickets

One of the easiest ways to connect between Nairobi and Mombasa is via the SGR. Train runs daily between these two major cities in Kenya offering passengers convenient and comfortable rides. Madarak Express, the passenger and freight services, is operated by the Kenya Railways Corporation.

Booking a ride on SGR can be done online, at the nearest Madaraka Express Passenger Service station, or through a USSD Payment method. Visa and Mastercard are also accepted particularly when paying over the counter. 

If you plan to travel on SGR from Nairobi to Mombasa or vice versa, I will show you how to book your ticket easily, in the comfort of your home.

SGR online booking 

There are about three methods for booking SGR tickets online. For all of them, M-Pesa is the preferred method of payment. 

Method 1

You’ll need a phone, laptop, or any device that connects to the internet.

1. Visit the Madara Expressway online booking platform at https://metickets.krc.co.ke/

2. Select your preferred train, where you are traveling from, and where you are going to, and fill in the departure date. If you are going directly without stopping anywhere choose “Express”. If you intend to stop at any town in between, select “Inter-County’.

3. Click on the ‘Book Train’ button and you will be directed to the train’s class of service and their rates.

4. Indicate the number of tickets you wish to purchase and your preferred coach type and click ‘Book a Train’.

5. Provide your personal details, including your full name, ID number, and contact information.

6. Review your booking details and click “Confirm” to proceed with the payment.

7. After a successful payment, you will receive a confirmation email and a text message containing your booking details and a QR code.

Method 2

You will need a mobile phone with a valid registered Airtel or Safaricom number. While you won’t need the internet, this method is not free. You need to have at least Ksh. 20 airtime before you start.

1. Dial *639# to access the USSD menu on your phone.
2. Follow the prompts to select the type of ride you want, and the number of tickets that you want to buy and make the payment through M-PESA.
3. This method allows you to purchase a maximum of 10 tickets in a single transaction.

Method 3

This method needs you to have the Mpesa app and a connection to the internet.

1. Log in to the M-PESA app on your mobile device.
2. Navigate to “Transport and Travel” and select “Madaraka Express.”
3. Select your preferred train type, origin and destination, and departure date.
4. Train details will be provided and fares for both economy and first class
5. Choose the number of tickets you wish to purchase and click “Continue.”
6. Provide your personal details, including your full name, ID or passport number, Gender, Nationality, and contact information.
7. Review your booking details and click “Continue” to proceed with the payment.
8. Enter your phone number and click “Pay.” Payments can be made directly from the Mpesa App.

Things to note when booking your SGR Ticket

You can book tickets sixty days in advance. Requests for cancellation of travel and refund can be done at the nearest SGR service station. Just provide original identification documents and a photocopy of the same. Refunds take two weeks to process with a deduction of 30% fee of the fare.

If you decide to reschedule your ticket, submit your request 48 hours before the departure time indicated on your ticket. This attracts a 10% fee of the fare and you must ensure that the details provided during your booking remain the same. Tickets are not transferable to a different person.

Children under the age of three can travel free of charge. Those aged four to eleven years are usually offered a ticket half (50% off) of the adult fare. At twelve years of age and above, one must purchase a ticket at the full adult fare. Proof of age and identity will be required during check-in.

The allowed maximum weight for passenger luggage is 30 kilograms without exceeding 1.6 meters in height, width, and depth.

Why I always choose the SGR train over a bus

Traveling by train over the standard gauge railway from Nairobi to Mobasa or the other way around is faster and more comfortable whether premium or economy class. A bus takes at least 8 hours to cover the distance between the two towns while a train takes at most six hours.

Kenya Railways has also provided buses that transport customers on arrival from the Mombasa Terminus to Mombasa CBD. The services are also available in Nairobi where customers can catch a shuttle bus in the CBD or a commuter train at the CBD railway station. This makes everything convenient.