The Mombasa Commuter Rail Service connects Mombasa Railway Station in the city centre with Mombasa Terminus in Miritini. It provides an important urban connection for Madaraka Express passengers and commuters travelling between Mombasa Island, Changamwe, Miritini and surrounding areas.
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Mombasa commuter train route
Route: Mombasa Railway Station ↔ Mombasa Terminus
Via: Makupa Causeway, Changamwe and Miritini
Makupa Causeway and Changamwe describe the principal corridor followed by the railway. Passengers should not assume that every named locality is a scheduled boarding station unless it appears on the current Kenya Railways timetable.
Principal stations and areas served
The service connects:
- Mombasa Railway Station
- Miritini
- Mombasa Terminus
The railway crosses from Mombasa Island through the Makupa corridor before continuing towards Changamwe and Miritini.
Mombasa Railway Station
Mombasa Railway Station serves the city-centre end of the commuter route. It provides a more convenient boarding point for passengers coming from Mombasa Island than travelling directly to the SGR terminus by road.
The station can be reached using local matatus, buses, tuk-tuks, boda bodas and taxis operating within Mombasa. Passengers should distinguish it from Mombasa Terminus, which is situated in Miritini.
Makupa Causeway and Changamwe corridor
The railway uses the Makupa connection between Mombasa Island and the mainland before continuing through the Changamwe area.
This section enables the commuter railway to avoid some of the road congestion experienced by passengers travelling between Mombasa CBD and Miritini. Changamwe also provides road connections towards Port Reitz, Jomvu, the airport area and other mainland neighbourhoods.
However, Makupa Causeway and Changamwe should be described as areas along the route unless Kenya Railways identifies them as active passenger stops in a current schedule.
Miritini connection
Miritini serves communities surrounding the SGR terminus and provides access to residential, commercial and industrial areas west of central Mombasa.
Passengers alighting before the main terminus should confirm the correct station and arrange onward transport to their final destination.
Mombasa Terminus
Mombasa Terminus is the coastal endpoint of the Madaraka Express Standard Gauge Railway. It is located in Miritini, several kilometres from Mombasa CBD.
The commuter train allows passengers to transfer between Mombasa city centre and Madaraka Express services without completing the entire connection by road.
Passengers continuing towards Nairobi can consult the Mombasa–Nairobi Inter-County Train guide or the Mombasa–Nairobi Express Train guide.
Connection with Madaraka Express trains
The commuter service is scheduled to provide connections with selected Madaraka Express arrivals and departures. A passenger travelling from Mombasa CBD can use the link train to reach Mombasa Terminus before boarding an SGR service.
Passengers arriving from Nairobi can transfer at Mombasa Terminus and continue towards Mombasa Railway Station.
Connections should always be checked in advance. A timetable change affecting either service could alter the available transfer.
Is this an SGR train?
The commuter connection and the Madaraka Express use different railway systems.
The local Mombasa service uses the rehabilitated metre-gauge railway, while trains between Mombasa and Nairobi operate on the Standard Gauge Railway. Passengers transfer between the two services at Mombasa Terminus.
Tickets and boarding arrangements
Ticketing arrangements for the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service may differ from Madaraka Express bookings. Passengers should confirm whether tickets are purchased separately and whether payment is made at the station or through another authorised channel.
Before travelling, check:
- The current departure time
- The correct Mombasa boarding station
- Connection time with the Madaraka Express
- Commuter-train fare
- Ticketing and identification requirements
- Luggage conditions
- Last-mile transport at the destination
Matatu and road connections
Local matatus provide connections between Mombasa Railway Station, the CBD, Changamwe, Miritini and surrounding neighbourhoods. They can be used as first- and last-mile transport or as an alternative when the commuter train is unavailable.
Passengers should confirm the correct stage and ask whether the vehicle serves Mombasa Railway Station, Miritini or the SGR terminus because these are different destinations.
Matatu routes, boarding stages and fares can change. Confirm the destination displayed on the vehicle before boarding.
Important passenger notice
Train schedules can change at any time. Confirm the latest departure and return times with Kenya Railways.
Train fares, ticketing arrangements and service schedules can change at any time. Consult the official Mombasa Commuter Rail timetable and the Kenya Railways website before travelling.
