Chaos, Frustration at Mombasa SGR Terminus After 10 PM Train Suspended
Tense and chaotic scenes unfolded at the Mombasa SGR terminus on Sunday night after Kenya Railways abruptly suspended the 10 PM Madaraka Express train to Nairobi, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
The unexpected cancellation caught many off guard, with travelers—some returning from the popular Summer Tides Festival in Diani—forced to sit in open fields in the dark, unsure of how to proceed.
“There’s been no communication from the SGR team on refunds or alternative transport,” said a visibly frustrated passenger. “They’ve locked us out of the terminus, and now we don’t know whether to book a bus. There are police roadblocks, and we feel unsafe.”
The situation was compounded by heavy traffic around the terminal as friends and family dropped off passengers who were hoping to board the now-cancelled train.
According to some passengers, they arrived at the station up to two hours in advance, only to learn that the train had been suspended without prior notice.
“We were coming from Summer Tides but apparently, we got a notification from the SGR team that the 10 PM train has been suspended. Right now, all of us are stranded,” one traveler told Citizen TV.
Kenya Railways issued a statement later in the evening, attributing the suspension to technical issues. “We regret to notify members of the public that due to technical issues, the Madaraka Express 10 PM passenger train from Mombasa to Nairobi has been suspended,” the agency stated.
“Kenya Railways prioritises the safety of our passengers. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
However, no immediate alternative travel arrangements or refund information had been communicated as of the time of publishing, deepening the frustration among affected passengers.
The incident raises concerns over the preparedness of Kenya Railways in handling emergency disruptions and the need for better communication and contingency plans to protect travelers from such inconveniences in the future.
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Chaos, Frustration at Mombasa SGR Terminus After 10 PM Train Suspended