The new route, inaugurated on 29 October 2026, allows importers, dealers and individuals to transport their vehicles by train from Mombasa port to Nairobi. The operator targets a volume of 700 vehicles per month.
Kenya Railways has launched a service dedicated to the transport of vehicles between the port of Mombasa and the inner container depot in Embakasi, Nairobi. The first train, which departed on 29 October 2026, carried 21 vehicles in eight hours.
They were loaded on four specially designed cars, integrated into a convoy that also included 34 flat cars carrying marine containers. This new offer is for importers, car dealers, manufacturers and individuals.
The railway operator plans to transport up to 700 vehicles per month on this route. According to its managing director, Philip J. Mainga, this service must diversify Kenya's freight operations and offer an alternative to road transport.
Rail transport can, in particular, limit the kilometres travelled by vehicles before delivery, while reducing their exposure to the risks and wear associated with long journeys. It could also help to reduce car traffic on the Mombasa-Nairobi axis.
The provision includes complementary services, including securing and securing vehicles, insurance and processing customs formalities according to the operator. Specially manufactured carriers can accommodate different models of cars.
Kenya Railways also intends to make this solution accessible to individuals and professionals, with possibilities for connecting to Naivasha. The company is also considering attracting clients from neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
This launch is part of the diversification of rail freight in Kenya, where the standard gauge network (SGR) already transports goods between the port of Mombasa and inland platforms. Vehicle service tests had been conducted since 2025.
The choice of Embakasi depot makes it possible to rely on an existing infrastructure to organize the distribution of vehicles to and within Nairobi. However, the starting frequencies and rates for this new service have not yet been specified by the operator.
