Kenya Railways is finalising preparations for the upcoming launch of the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service, a milestone project that integrates the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) networks to improve commuter access between Miritini and Mombasa Island.
The 2.8-kilometre Miritini link line, now fully complete and under its Defect Notification Period (DNP), forms the anchor of a broader modernisation effort that includes the rehabilitation of the 17-kilometre Miritini–Mombasa Island corridor and the construction of three new stations: Mombasa Island, Changamwe East and Changamwe West.
The project, funded 100% by the Government of Kenya, is designed to resolve one of the most persistent urban mobility challenges in the region, the last-mile connectivity between the Mombasa Terminus and Mombasa’s Central Business District.
“This line is not just about trains,” said Eng. Mwania Mativo, the Project Manager overseeing the construction of Mombasa Island Station, Regional Office, Changamwe East and West stations and rehabilitation of the MGR line. “It’s about linking people, systems and opportunities. We have built infrastructure, but we have also laid the foundation for a more mobile, connected and efficient coastal city.”
The new link begins at the Mombasa Terminus and proceeds through the Miritini MGR Station before crossing the newly constructed 283-metre-long Makupa Railway Bridge over the causeway. The track includes a locomotive turntable and is designed to accommodate both passenger and freight movement.
The bridge, which has already become a visual landmark on the coastline, is constructed to high engineering standards, integrating safety features, drainage works and modern track laying with ballasting and precast sleeper systems.
Alongside the Miritini Link Line, Kenya Railways has made significant progress on the broader Mombasa Island-Miritini rehabilitation project, which aims to restore and upgrade the historical MGR corridor for modern use. According to the latest project updates, 95% of the rail rehabilitation and embankment works have been completed.
The new Mombasa Central Station, which will also house the KR Coastal Regional Office, is nearing full completion, with structural works, platforms, canopies, ICT systems and power installations at between 85% and 100% progress.
Construction is also underway for Changamwe East and West stations, designed to serve as commuter access points within residential and industrial hubs. Civil works have begun, with architectural drawings finalised and physical progress at about 5%. These stations will further decentralise access and reduce reliance on road-based transport.
Once operational, the Miritini Link Line will cut travel time between Miritini and Mombasa CBD by more than half, reducing traffic congestion and lowering travel costs for daily commuters. It will also pave the way for future freight movement through the corridor, thereby easing the burden on the Likoni Road and Port Reitz arteries, which are two of the city’s most congested roadways.
Once operational, local traders, port users and workers from Miritini, Changamwe and beyond will enjoy faster commutes, lower logistical costs and a more organised urban transport ecosystem.
