Kenya
Country Details
Name: Kenya (officially the Republic of Kenya)
Language: The national language is Kiswahili; the official languages are Kiswahili and English
Currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)
National Railway System
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), also Kenya Railways (KR) is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.
Timetable
Journey Planner
Downloadable Timetable
Go to https://krc.co.ke/# - but see also "Recent and future changes" (below) for schedule of the weekly Nairobi - Kisumu service.
Printed Timetable
None known
Summary timetables are available in some editions of the European Rail Timetable.
Engineering Information
None known
Bus Information
Not known
Other Sources
Extensive information is available at the Man in Seat 61.
Maps
Printed Maps
- World Rail Atlas - North, East and Central Africa by Neil Robinson - out of date
Web-based Maps
- Official: https://krc.co.ke/railway-network/
- Unofficial: Railways Through Europe - out of date
Ticketing
Go to https://krc.co.ke/#
Infrastructure
Gauge
Standard and Metre (which is sometimes referred to as 3 foot) - see "Recent and future changes", below.
Electrification
There are no electrified lines in Kenya.
Rule of the road
Left, but the system is almost entirely single track
Other Railways
Magadi Railway - see PSUL: World Beyond Europe
Tourist Lines
None known
Metro and light rail systems
None
Recent and future changes
After a gap of 15 years, the metre gauge service from Nairobi to Kisumu resumed on 17 December 2021: Fridays only: Nairobi 06:00 Kisumu 17:45; Sundays only: Kisumu 06:00 Nairobi 18:20. See https://krc.co.ke/nairobi-kisumu-safari-train-makes-the-long-awaited-comeback/
The Mombasa – Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) opened to passenger service on 1 May 2017, whereupon Rift Valley Railways (RVR) suspended their Nairobi - Mombasa long distance passenger service on the old metre gauge line to "enable RVR to reorganize their services". Rift Valley Railways' 25 year concession was prematurely terminated from 31 July 2017, when Kenya Railways Corporation (Kenya Railways) commenced running their own services. Commercial freight began on 1 January 2018.
An extension from Nairobi to Suswa was completed in October 2019. A second phase would see the line extended to Malaba, near the border with Uganda, and eventually to Kampala. However, it is now doubtful that this will happen as China has reduced its funding. Freight on the existing line comprises almost entirely of imports, whereas an extension to Uganda would provide export traffic. However, Uganda may decide to route its traffic via Tanzania, which would have a severe effect on the financial position of the SGR.
Obscure and Sparse Passenger Services
Special Notes
Distances in km:
| Nairobi – Mombasa | 530 |
| Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu | 398 |
| Kisumu – Butere | 69 |
