Kenya Railways launches vehicle transport service between Mombasa and Nairobi
Kenya Railways has launched a new vehicle transport service on its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), introducing a rail freight option for moving imported cars between the Port of Mombasa and Nairobi.
The inaugural shipment departed Mombasa on 29 October 2026 and reached the Embakasi Inland Container Depot in Nairobi after an eight-hour journey. The train carried 21 vehicles on four specially adapted car-carrier wagons, alongside 34 flatbed wagons transporting shipping containers.
The new service expands Kenya Railways’ freight operations into vehicle transportation, allowing imported cars to move inland by rail rather than being driven or transported individually by road. It is intended for vehicle importers, dealerships, manufacturers and private customers using the Mombasa–Nairobi transport corridor.
Vehicle transport integrated with container freight
The inaugural operation demonstrated how car-carrier wagons can be incorporated into existing freight train movements alongside containerised cargo. The four specialised wagons transported the initial consignment of vehicles from the port to the inland depot, where they could continue to their final destinations.
Kenya Railways is targeting approximately 700 vehicles per month through the service, although this figure represents a commercial objective rather than an established handling volume.
The first shipment was organised in cooperation with Autobarn East Africa, a vehicle dealership involved in the development of the new transport arrangement.
The railway operator had been conducting trials since 2025 before introducing the service. The new offering includes vehicle securing, insurance and customs-processing services to support customers moving vehicles from the coastal gateway into the country’s interior.
By shifting vehicle movements onto the railway, Kenya Railways aims to reduce the additional mileage associated with driving imported cars between Mombasa and Nairobi, while limiting their exposure to road-related damage and congestion.
Kenya Railways expands its freight offering
The service forms part of Kenya Railways’ efforts to diversify freight activity along the Standard Gauge Railway, which links the Port of Mombasa with inland logistics infrastructure serving Nairobi and other destinations.
Philip J. Mainga, Managing Director of Kenya Railways, said the introduction of vehicle transportation would support the company’s efforts to strengthen rail freight services and provide an additional option for importers and motorists.
The operator is also seeking to attract customers involved in vehicle distribution beyond Nairobi, including those serving neighbouring East African markets.
The initial operation establishes the practical use of specialised vehicle carriers within an existing container freight service. Further growth will depend on customer demand, the availability of rolling stock and the development of regular vehicle transport volumes.
For the Port of Mombasa, the service provides an additional inland distribution option for imported vehicles, linking maritime cargo handling with Kenya’s rail freight network and inland logistics facilities.
