SGR to reject cash payments starting February 1

Michael Majanga for Tv47 Digital January 25, 2023, 12:37 PM

SGR to go cashless — Passengers boarding the SGR train at the Nairobi Terminus. The SGR has announced that it will go cashless starting February 1, 2023.

In Summary

The Madaraka Express Passenger Service started operation in June 1, 2018, ferrying passengers between Nairobi and Mombasa.

There are stop-overs at Athi River, Emali, Kibwezi, Mtito Andei, Voi, Miasenyi, Mariakani stations.

The move to go cashless is in a bid to curb fraud, as well as in line with Government's plan to digitise all services for Kenyans.

Passengers using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) trains will no longer be able to pay tickets using cash starting next Wednesday (February 1, 2023).

In a public notice on Tuesday, January 24, the Kenya Railways said they are going cashless, and that travellers will only be allowed to purchase tickets using M-Pesa or debit and credit cards in all SGR train stations.

"We wish to notify our customers and the general public that effective 1st February, 2023, we will no longer be accepting cash for the purchase of tickets at all Madaraka Express Passenger Service stations... We thank you for your continued support," the notice reads.

The SGR operates to sets of trains between Nairobi and Mombasa, with departures at 8am, 2pm and 10am.

SGR trains charge KSh1,000 for economy class tickets and KSh3,000 for first class tickets between Nairobi and Mombasa.