Commuters aboard the newly launched KRC’s Diesel Multiple Units(DMUs) will temporarily enjoy half price from Nairobi CBD to JKIA.
Kenya Railways has, in a move to woo travellers to DMUs, announced that it has reduced fares by up to 50 percent on the new railway link from the city centre.
Kenya Railway Corporation (KRC) managing director Philip Mainga said yesterday that ticket price on the new service has been reduced to Sh250 down from Sh500.
Last week, KRC faced a massive backlash from Netizens after they published a minimum but exorbitant rate of Ksh500 from CBD to JKIA.
“From anytime in the morning, going to JKIA is against traffic and you will take less than 30 minutes to arrive at the gate using AirportNorth Road and it will be less tha Ksh100,” One Kenyan ranted.
The corporation launched operations for the railway link last week for the 20-minute ride.
“So, I pay you Sh500 then take taxi to Railways Station in CBD, carry my bags to DMU, then you drop me at Embakasi again I carry my bags to a BRT-sweating and COVID-19 scare at play, then alight and again carry my bags to the airport!? My taxi driver is way convenient and affordable,” another Kenyan posted on Twitter
The service will see passengers dropped at the Embakasi Railway Station from where a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus will pick them and ferry them to the JKIA.
“It’s a promotional fare. It will run for a period a period of three months after which we will review the rates,” said Mr Maing.
As we mark the partnership between Kenya Railways and Kenya Airways, we have travellers on the ground to experience the seamless connection to JKIA #KeepKenyaMoving #KQ pic.twitter.com/BZmIMffbjU
— Kenya Railways (@KenyaRailways_) December 17, 2020
He added that the new Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) will leave Nairobi Central station at 5:45am to arrive in Embakasi Village at 6:10am. Passangers will then board a BRT bus for the transfer to the airport, arriving at 6:35am.
There will be another DMU leaving Nairobi Central station at 11am to arrive at Embakasi Village at 11.25am. Passengers will then pick a BRT bus at 11:35am to arrive at JKIA at 11:50pm.
In the opposite direction, passengers will leave JKIA using a BRT bus at 6am to arrive at Embakasi Village at 6:15am. They will then depart the station at 6:19am to arrive at the city centre at 6:54am.
Another BRT bus will be leaving JKIA at 11:50am to arrive at Embakasi station at 12:05 pm. Passngers will then alight and board a DMU train at 12:10pm to arrive at Nairobi Central station at 12:44pm.
“It is a service that cuts the travel time between the city centre to JKIA to 20-minutes up from two hours on the road. Passengers will be able to buy tickets via M-Pesa or directly at our train stations,” said Mr Mainga.
The launch of the JKIA express service followed the commissioning last month of the new DMUs by President Uhuru Kenyatta- who assured that the rail track will be extended to the airport.
Last month, Kenya borrowed Sh14 billion from France to construct a railway line linking JKIA to Nairobi’s city centre.
