Kenya Railways starts moving cars by train between Mombasa and Nairobi
Kenya Railways has started carrying cars by train between Mombasa and Nairobi, opening a new freight service on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). The first consignment of 24 vehicles arrived at the Nairobi Inland Container Depot, and the railway confirmed the launch on Saturday, 31 October.
The service is aimed at car dealers, importers and clearing agents, who usually move vehicles by road. It was launched with vehicle dealer Autobarn East Africa, which plans to move about 700 vehicles a month from Mombasa to Nairobi. Kenya Railways said it had been testing the service since last year and is now inviting more dealers and importers to use it.
Each specially built wagon can carry about six cars. The trip takes around eight to nine hours, compared with more than a day by road, according to Kenya Railways. The railway said the first vehicles arrived without damage, and customers can track their vehicles through its manifest system until they are offloaded.
The service also runs in both directions, so holidaymakers can send a personal car to Mombasa and collect it there, then send it back after their trip. Kenya Railways is also looking beyond Kenya, targeting vehicle traders in neighbouring countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania.
Why it matters
Moving cars by rail takes lorries off busy roads and cuts the risk of damage and accidents on long drives. For Kenya Railways, it is a new source of income from the SGR, beyond its usual passenger and freight work. If the service grows as planned, it could also help traders across East Africa move vehicles through the port of Mombasa more cheaply and safely.
What happens next
Kenya Railways is inviting more dealers, importers and clearing agents to sign up, and Autobarn East Africa plans to build up to about 700 vehicles a month. The railway has set up vehicle loading facilities in both Mombasa and Nairobi, and the service connects onward to Naivasha. How quickly it grows will depend on demand from car dealers and holidaymakers.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://capitalfm.africa/kenya-railways-targets-car-dealers-with-new-sgr-freight-service/ (Capital FM, 30 October 2026)
- https://peopledaily.digital/business/kenya-railways-launches-sgr-car-transport-service-targets-700-vehicles-monthly (People Daily, 31 October 2026)
