Kenya Railways Advises Passengers to Arrive 1 Hour Early for Madaraka Express Amid Rains

Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) announced adjustments in the arrival times for the Madaraka Express passengers in a notice issued on April 29.

The corporation urged all Madaraka Express passengers to arrive at their departure stations at least one hour before their scheduled departure time, citing disruptions caused by ongoing heavy rains and widespread traffic snarl-ups across the country.

“Due to the ongoing heavy rains and traffic snarl-ups, passengers are advised to arrive at their departure station at least one hour before the departure time indicated on their ticket,” stated Kenya Railways.

The railway corporation says that this move is to ensure a streamlined and seamless experience during ticketing, security checks, and boarding.

Usually, physical security screening, ticketing, and boarding collectively take between 30 and 60 minutes at all Standard Gauge Railways (SGR) terminuses countrywide.

During busy periods, the screening process alone can take up to 30 minutes, making early arrival essential for travellers.

Physical ticket printing, which can be done at the stations for passengers without prior reservations, can also take up time, with queues that can grow lengthy during peak travel times, meaning late arrivals risk missing their trains entirely.

Boarding closes early, with the final call made 11 minutes before departure and platform gates shutting 10 minutes prior; hence, early arrival in the current rainy season could come in handy for passengers.

The advisory comes as the country grapples with flooding and congestion on major roads leading to train stations, making it increasingly difficult for commuters to arrive on time for their journeys.

It also comes at a time when major highways and critical infrastructure countrywide have been destroyed, leading the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to close critical routes such as the Iten -Kabarnet Road, which experiences peak traffic frequently.

Heavy rains have also led to homes being submerged and 2 deaths thus far, as per the Kenya Red Cross data, leading the government to order the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) to lead the search, rescue, and evacuation in hard-hit areas of the country.

With the heavy rains, various transport agencies such as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have issued travel advisories to motorists to exercise caution while using the roads.

Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA) predicted that the rains will go on for an extended period of time, urging residents who live in the low areas to exercise caution.