RIFT VALLEY RAILWAYS SUSPENDS PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE FROM NAIROBI TO MOMBASA
(Posted 02nd August 2016)
It was confirmed earlier today that Rift Valley Railways has now formally suspended passenger rail services between Nairobi and Mombasa, and vice versa. This will no doubt leave many tourists disappointed as rail journeys have found an increasing following around the world and traveling the route of the ‘Lunatic Express‘, aka ‘The Iron Snake‘ is one of those on the bucket list of many rail aficionados.
Tourists mostly use the First Class services which operates sleeping compartments and with a restaurant car available has the overnight train service always attracted passengers from abroad, besides thousands of local travelers who pay as little as 680 Kenya Shillings for the journey, about 7 US Dollars to safely reach the Kenya coast or in turn the nation’s capital city Nairobi.
It is understood that some 20 coaches will undergo complete refurbishment over the coming months and that the service is due to resume in time for the festive season 2016/17 if not before.
It could not be established though if the coaches will be outfitted with air conditioning systems to make the 14 hour journey more pleasant.
