Kenya Railways Corporation has suspended its commuters train service to various destinations in Nairobi starting Thursday for the next 11 days as it scales down service during Christmas. 

According to Kenya Railways, operation of the Nairobi Commuter Rail Service to Ruiru, Embakasi, Kikuyu and Syokimau will remain suspended from December 24 to January 3.

The Central Railways station - Jomo Kenyatta International Airport express service, Madaraka express and commuter link to and from the SGR terminus will however remain in operation.

The Nairobi - Nanyuki Commuter Rail Service remains in operation amid increased demand.

“We wish to notify our commuters that the Nairobi Commuter Rail Services to Ruiru, Embakasi, Kikuyu and Syokimau will be suspended from December 24, 2020 till January 3, 2021,” read said.

Kenya Railways last week announced it had reduced fares by half for commuters using the CBD- JKIA rail service for three months following complaints over the initial Sh500 fare announced. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the Nairobi commuter rail service last month alongside 11 refurbished Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) to kick off the public transportation programme.

Passengers are charged Sh100 per trip on the DMU trains on routes that include Embakasi Village, Pipeline, Donholm, Syokimau and Kikuyu following upgrading of the rail network.

New stations are being erected in Umoja, Kitengela, Thika, Kibera, Mbagathi Way, Kenyatta and Strathmore university and Thogoto and will also adopt the “park and ride” model.

The rail project is part of the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Master Plan that seeks to modernize and expand rail transport and reduce traffic congestion on roads in Nairobi County.