Kenya Railways has added special Madaraka Express services for passengers travelling between Nairobi and Mombasa over the next two days, providing an alternative mode of transport as an ongoing aviation dispute continues to disrupt flights across the country.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 31, the corporation announced additional train trips for August 31 and September 1, 2026, as hundreds of passengers remain affected by disruptions linked to the standoff between the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) and the government.
"Kenya Railways wishes to inform members of the public that additional special train services will be available for booking on August 31, 2026 and September 1, 2026," the corporation stated.
Under the special schedule, a train will depart from the Mombasa Terminus at 8.40 p.m. on both August 31 and September 1, providing an evening travel option for passengers heading to Nairobi.
On Tuesday, September 1, Kenya Railways will operate two further special services. The first will leave the Nairobi Terminus at 9.40 a.m., while another train will depart from Mombasa at 4.30 p.m.
The additional services come on top of the regular Madaraka Express schedule, which typically provides three daily departures from both Nairobi and Mombasa.
Under the normal timetable, trains leave the two termini at 8.00 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m., giving passengers morning, afternoon and late-evening travel options.
Kenya Railways can deploy standby locomotives and coaches to operate additional services when demand rises. Such trains are allocated separate train numbers and departure slots as part of the additional schedule.
Where spare coaches are available, the corporation can also increase passenger capacity by attaching additional carriages to existing services. However, the availability of spare rolling stock, platform infrastructure and other operational requirements can limit how much capacity can be added.
Passenger capacity may also be increased through adjustments to seating arrangements and coach configurations rather than simply adding more carriages.
The additional trains come as the aviation sector faces significant disruptions following industrial action by KAWU members.
The union has maintained its position in the ongoing dispute with the government over a range of demands, with the industrial action disrupting airport operations and leaving travellers facing delays and uncertainty.
With flights between Nairobi and Mombasa among the affected travel routes, the additional Madaraka Express services could provide stranded or inconvenienced passengers with another option to complete their journeys.
The move also comes at a time when demand for alternative transport is likely to rise as travellers seek to avoid prolonged delays at airports.
For passengers able to secure seats, the extra SGR departures offer additional flexibility during the disruption, particularly for those travelling between Kenya's two largest cities.
