Inside New SGR Premium Coaches Charging Ksh12,000 Per Trip [PHOTOS]

Kenya Railways (KR) on Monday, July 22 introduced a new Premium class coach that will reportedly set one back Ksh12,000 on a single trip.

The coach is part of four premium coaches for the Madaraka Express in a bid to improve the passenger experience on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) trains between the port city of Mombasa and the capital, Nairobi.

KR confirmed the arrival of the new coaches alongside four first class, 10 economy, one dining and one power car.

Features

The premium coaches have been designed with luxury and comfort in mind, giving passengers access to unique features such as reclining seats, among space and entertainment options on offer in its special list of options.

Collage photo of Transport PS Mohamed Daghar inside the new premium Standard Gauge Railway coaches in Port Reitz Mombasa County. /KENYA RAILWAYS

“The much-awaited Premium Class coaches are here. The four Premium coaches are among a batch of ten economy-class coaches, one dining car, one power car and four first-class coaches. The offloading is taking place at the Port of Mombasa,” KR posted on X.

“KR Premium is set to redefine luxury travel with exclusive amenities and world-class comfort.”

The premium class on Kenya Railways provides fully reclining seats that double as beds for passengers, a similar feature common in passenger and privately chartered aircraft. Additionally, the coaches have enough legroom and space for the passengers travelling in the premium class.

The seat is well-padded and upholstered in high-quality material, with a combination of leather and fabric. It has a headrest and ample cushioning, providing comfort for long journeys.

Unlike the normal wagons, each wagon will have 28 seats to provide sufficient legroom.

“Fully Reclining seats for your comfort and relaxation. KR Premium is set to redefine luxury travel with exclusive amenities and top-notch comfort,” Kenya Railways added.

There is also additional storage space for passengers, including storage space for shoes. Additionally, the configuration of the premium class will allow passengers to face the direction of their choice while travelling.

Kenya Railways is also set to introduce specialised catering services for the premium class services.

“Segregated from other compartments, the premium coach offers privacy and exclusivity, ensuring passengers can work, relax or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery.”

“Premium Class passengers will have access to VIP lounges and benefit from priority boarding and disembarkation at terminals, adding to the already existing convenience of their journey,” Kenya Railways stated.

Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar visited the Port Reitz terminal to inspect the new coaches, in the company of other government officials in the transport industry including Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Captain William Ruto, Kenya Railways Chairman Abdi Duale and Managing Director Philip Mainga.

The prices of the tickets for the Premium experience are anticipated to be the highest of any train trip within Kenya, surpassing the cost of some airline tickets which allow one to travel on the same route between Mombasa and Nairobi, though at a shorter timeframe of 45 minutes to one hour.

At the moment, tickets from Nairobi to Mombasa cost Ksh1,500 for the economy class and Ksh4,500 for those who opt for the first class category.

A view of the newly-acquired Madaraka Express Passenger Service Coaches. /KENYA RAILWAYS