Kenyans planning a trip to Mombasa this festive season may have to rethink their travel plans, after the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) management announced that all premium class seats are fully booked until February 2026.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, October 13, SGR Managing Director Philip Mainga said the surge in demand for train tickets to the Coast had caught the management by surprise, forcing them to consider adding more coaches especially for premium passengers.
“The demand for premium class is overwhelming,” Mainga said. “We’re now in the process of ordering additional coaches and equipment to ensure that every traveller is accommodated. As it stands, we are booked until February.”
To address the shortage, Mainga revealed that Kenya Railways is exploring the possibility of introducing special trains to handle the festive rush, similar to the one that recently transported ODM members to Mombasa for the party’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
“We’re fully booked for Christmas; there are no seats left,” he added. “However, we’re willing to run special trains to make sure Kenyans can travel to Mombasa, enjoy the holidays, and return home comfortably.”
This wouldn’t be the first time SGR has had to step up its services during the festive period. Last year, Kenya Railways introduced a special Madaraka Express train to ease congestion on the Nairobi–Mombasa route.
The one-way service, which took about six hours, operated on December 17, 2024, and was part of efforts to accommodate the high number of travellers heading to the Coast for the holidays.
Meanwhile, as the festive season approaches, road safety authorities are also stepping up their vigilance. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has urged motorists to strictly observe traffic signs and speed limits to reduce road accidents during the busy period.
KURA further warned that drivers flouting traffic regulations will face legal action, while contractors who fail to install proper road signage at construction sites will be penalized.
Kenyans planning to travel to Mombasa may need to secure alternative transport or act fast once special train services are announced.
