Kenya Railways has discontinued the day train on the Nairobi-Kisumu line in favor of a night train.
Passengers using the service will begin traveling at night on Friday as a result of alterations made to the Kisumu route.
According to Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga, the Kisumu Safari train, which was reintroduced in December 2021 after a long break, has proven to be a hit, with many revelers and residents of the Lakeside region using the train as a preferred form of transportation.
“We listened to our customers and the general public and decided to make the change to meet their travel needs. The Kisumu train will now make the journey during the night. We are also introducing more stops during the journey to ensure we cater to more customers along the way. Depending on the demand, we may also reintroduce the day train in due course,” he stated.
In response to consumer requests, the Kisumu night train will now stop in Kikuyu, Naivasha, Nakuru, Njoro, Elburgon, Turi, Molo, Mau Summit, Londiani, Kedowa, Kipkelion, Tunnel, Fort Ternan, Koru, Muhoroni, Chemelil, Kibigori, Miwani, and Kibos before arriving in Kisumu.
The number of passengers using the service will also increase as a result of this.
Every Friday, the train will depart from Nairobi Central Station at 1830hrs and arrive in Kisumu at 0630hrs.
On Sunday, the train will depart from New Kisumu Station at 1830hrs and arrive in Nairobi at 0635hrs.
Kenya Railways seeks to make the service more appealing for travelers between Nairobi City, the Rift Valley, and the Lakeside region by charging Sh2,000 for a ride in the first-class cabins and Sh600 for a journey in the economy class coaches.