Madaraka Express

Kenya Railways Corporation
Kenya
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The Journey

Navigate from Nairobi Terminus to Mombasa Terminus across a span of 480km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Tsavo National Park wildlife viewing from elevated viaducts
  • Mount Kilimanjaro distant views on clear mornings
  • Athi Plains and semi-arid landscapes of the Rift Valley
  • Indian Ocean coast arrival into Mombasa
  • Giraffe and elephant herds visible underneath the viaducts
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    5.5 hours

  • Distance

    480 km

  • Est. Price

    Affordable to Mid-Range (KES 1,000–12,000 per person)

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: Light Meal / Snacks

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

China Railway Corporation CRRC DF8B diesel-electric locomotive

Track Gauge

1,435 mm (standard gauge)

Braking Technology

Air brakes with electronic control (ETBS), CCB II brake system

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Crosses the Great Rift Valley requiring substantial viaducts and embankments

  • Tsavo National Park section elevated on 2.4m embankment to allow wildlife movement

  • Fully grade-separated alignment requiring numerous overpasses and underpasses

  • 460km journey through semi-arid terrain prone to flash flooding during rainy season

  • Maximum gradient 1.5% on the inland plateau section

Line length

592 km (Nairobi Terminus to Mombasa Terminus)

Journey time

4.5–5.5 hours (Madaraka Express passenger service)

Maximum speed

120 km/h (passenger), 80 km/h (freight)

Extension

42 km Nairobi–Naivasha–Suswa extension completed October 2019

Construction cost

US$3.6 billion (Phase 1 Mombasa–Nairobi)

Operator

Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) under 5-year China Road & Bridge Corporation contract

Fleet

CNR Qingdao Sifang passenger cars, DF8B locomotives

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    5.5 hours

  • Distance

    480 km

  • Est. Price

    Affordable to Mid-Range (KES 1,000–12,000 per person)

Official Booking Provider