Commuter services on the Nairobi-Mombasa standard gauge railway (SGR) are set to resume on Monday after a three-month hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Madaraka Express train will operate under strict Covid-19 containment measures formulated by the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC).
A total of 10 coaches will be available to ferry at least 600 passengers per trip, which is 50 percent of the train’s capacity.
All travelers must wear facemasks, undergo temperature screening, and wash hands at the entrance of train termini. Only People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) will be allowed to use escalators.
KRC said any commuter who exhibits Covid-19 symptoms will be isolated immediately in an empty coach designated for this purpose. In addition, travelers will be required to maintain a social distance of 1.5 meters.
“If any passenger, staff or visitor is found with such symptoms as fever (≥37.5), fatigue and dry cough, he/she shall immediately be identified, isolated and handed over to the Health Officials for further verification and temperature checks to ascertain whether they are infected or not,” KRC said in a statement.
Tickets will be printed and issued by SGR workers wearing full PPE gear. Travelers have been advised to book tickets online if possible and no cash payments will not be accepted at the ticketing lounge.
The Madaraka Express train will leave Nairobi at 8 am on Monday and arrive in Mombasa at 12.45 pm the same day.
