The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kenya, known as the Madaraka Express, connects the port city of Mombasa with the capital, Nairobi. It was launched in 2017 and runs for about 592 kilometers. This railway line has made travel faster, reducing the journey from nearly ten hours by road to about five hours by train. It was built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation and financed mainly through Chinese loans. The SGR is a major part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 plan and aims to boost trade and transport across East Africa. T

he main SGR route between Nairobi and Mombasa has several stations. These include Nairobi Terminus in Syokimau, which links to the city’s commuter train service. The train also stops at Athi River, Emali, Kibwezi, Mtito Andei, Miasenyi, Voi, and Mariakani before reaching the Mombasa Terminus at Miritini. Each station has its own design inspired by local culture or landscape. For example, the Emali station has a fist-shaped design symbolizing unity, and the Miasenyi station features zebra stripes to reflect the local wildlife.

The SGR offers both passenger and freight services. Passengers can choose between express trains, which go directly between Nairobi and Mombasa, and inter-county trains that stop at all stations along the route. There are also cargo trains that carry goods, including containers stacked in two layers. Since its launch, the SGR has served millions of passengers and continues to grow. A new extension from Nairobi to Naivasha opened in 2019, with future plans to connect more parts of Kenya and neighboring countries.