The Mombasa Commuter Rail (MCR), officially commissioned in September 2025, serves as the critical coastal counterpart to the Nairobi Railway City project by solving the “last-mile” challenge for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). Following a KES 6 billion rehabilitation, the 16.8 km MCR link connects the Miritini SGR Terminus to the Mombasa Central Station on the island, utilizing a new 2.3 km railway bridge across the Makupa Causeway to bypass the city’s notorious road congestion.

Just as the Nairobi Railway City seeks to revitalize the capital’s CBD through transit-oriented development (TOD), the MCR is designed to catalyze a “coastal revival” by offering a predictable, KES 50 commuter service that integrates seamlessly with the Madaraka Express. Together, these two projects form the bookends of an integrated national rail backbone, ensuring that the efficiency gains of the high-speed SGR are not lost in urban gridlock at either primary terminal.

August 21, 2025

Kenya Railways has provided insight on the new Mombasa commuter rail train project, a modern intracity rail project. The state-owned entity has shared progress on the project, revealing that it aims to benefit local commuters. Once implemented, it will provide faster, safer and more affordable mode of daily commute along the railway that will stretch over 17 kilometers. The train will offer two options for the locals: the ‘Park and Ride’ and the ‘Drop and Ride’ options. It will link travelers of the Madaraka Express train from Nairobi to Mombasa.

The Park and Ride option will cater for motorists who can park their vehicles and ride the train. On the other hand, the Drop and Ride will cater to users of public service vehicles. Kenya Railways further revealed that the Transport Principal Secretary, Mohammed Dhagar, had taken a test ride on the train while inspecting its progress. Images shared of the new convenience train station showed that the upcoming station was near launch.

Project Factsheet

Significance:

• Enhances last-mile connectivity between the SGR’s Miritini Terminus and Mombasa CBD, directly impacting commuter experience and urban mobility.
• Aims to reduce travel time, ease road congestion, cut down carbon emissions, and provide safe, reliable, and affordable transport for coastal residents.
• Integrates seamlessly with the Madaraka Express (SGR), improving intermodal transfers and reinforcing the broader urban transport framework.

Infrastructure:

• Rehabilitated 16.6 km of existing Metre Gauge Railway (MGR), providing a link from Miritini into the city.
• Constructed modern passenger stations at Mombasa town and Miritini, with two additional stations planned at Changamwe West and Changamwe East.
• Features “Park and Ride” and “Drop and Ride” facilities with capacity for over 100 vehicles.

Developer:

• Led by Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) under the Ministry of Transport.
• Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar and KRC Managing Director Philip Mainga have spearheaded project inspections and successfully guided completion.

Funding:

• The project carries an estimated cost of KSh 4.2 billion, covering the SGR-MGR link infrastructure including stations, bridges, and track rehabilitation.
• Land acquisition delays were mitigated by a KSh 1.1 billion allocation to the National Land Commission, facilitating compensation and progress resumption.

Challenges:

• Progress suffered setbacks due to land acquisition issues, delaying construction until compensation mechanisms were enacted.
• Integrating the MGR link with the SGR for seamless transitions, including building pedestrian bridges and coordinating train schedules, required meticulous planning.

The State of Affairs Regarding the Mombasa Commuter Rail Train Project

In February, the Mombasa commuter rail train project announced the implementation of the project and its scope. Kenya Railways noted that it will link the Mombasa Central Railway Station within Mombasa CBD to the SGR Mombasa Terminus in Miritini. Its scope is of monumental achievement as it has been a connection that has long been a challenge for many commuters. “We are looking to operationalize the Link train for Mombasa County soon,” Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga stated on February 6.

Furthermore, he noted that once operational, residents, tourists, and train enthusiasts travelling to Mombasa will be able to use the Link train. The director also hoped it would ease access not only to Mombasa Terminus and the CBD but areas in between as well. It will feature a new Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) passenger station at Mombasa Terminus. Estimated to cost $32.5 million, the project commenced in September 2022. However, it has faced several delays primarily due to challenges in land acquisition.

Project Team

Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC): The lead implementing agency responsible for project oversight, land acquisition, and the eventual operation of the service.

Ministry of Roads and Transport: Provided the policy framework and secured the KES 4.2 billion funding for the project.

National Land Commission (NLC): Managed the critical KES 1.1 billion compensation process for land owners along the 1.4 km stretch that had previously stalled the project.

China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC): The main contractor responsible for the engineering and construction.

World Bank: Provided initial financing and technical support through the National Urban Transport Improvement Project (NUTRIP), which funded the feasibility studies and master planning for the Mombasa metropolitan rail network.

Africa Star Railway Operations Company (Afristar): A subsidiary of CRBC that operates the SGR; they coordinate with KRC to ensure the MCR link schedules are synchronized with the Madaraka Express arrivals and departures.

CRRC Nanjing Puzhen: Supplied the refurbished rolling stock and coaches used for the commuter service.

Dohwa Engineering (South Korea): Involved in the earlier feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs for the Mombasa commuter rail corridors.

GIBB Africa: Often partnered with international consultants to provide local engineering expertise and environmental impact assessments for Kenyan rail projects.