Monday’s launch of the new premium coaches for the Madaraka Express passenger service train has received mixed reactions.
While there was excitement with the 28-capacity executive, luxurious coaches, some tourism industry players and the public frowned at the pricing.
Transport PS Mohamed Daghar, who inspected the four new coaches, said they are looking at Sh12,000 for a one –way trip and Sh20,000 for a return ticket.
Tourism expert Mohammed Hersi welcomed the premium coaches saying they will spice up the industry.
“The positive side is that they look comfortable and nice. That is progressive,” he said.
“The pricing cannot be almost similar to a flight ticket. What will happen is that people will simply not take it unless you just want to ride the train,” the former Kenya Tourism Federation chairman told the Star on phone.
Hersi said the pricing should not be more than Sh6,000.
“Sh12,000 is an overkill. When one can fly to a meeting faster, safer and cheaper than the train, then people will start questioning the rationale of paying for a rail service that will take five times longer to reach a destination," he said.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers CEO Mike Macharia said he is yet to get the feel of the premium coaches.
“Thus I cannot comment on it. I also don’t know how they arrived at the pricing so it will be difficult and unfair to comment,” he said.
However, some frequent travellers hailed the move saying it will provide an adventure and an experience that many only see in movies and experienced by rich who fly business class.
Don Bakari, a frequent flyer, said he will pay the amount for the experience.
“I would like to have the air experience on land,” he said.
Kadzandani MCA Fatma Kushe, who is the vice chairperson of the Mombasa county assembly health committee, said KRC should have considered increasing health facilities in the coaches instead of putting in more luxury.
“What happens if you are in the business, first or economy class and you get choked by food or you faint? Are there standby nurses on board? Is there any room that can act as a sick bay instead of announcement calling for any doctor on board?” Kushe asked.
She said the government has to get its priorities right.
“The health and safety of passengers should come before their luxury needs,” Kushe said.
Apart from the four premium coaches, the consignment also included four first class coaches, 10 economy coaches and two power wagons to be used to power the coaches.
The first class and economy class coaches have new and improved designs.
PS Daghar said the coaches were received last week.
He was accompanied by KRC chairperson Abdi Barre, managing director Phillip Mainga, Kenya Ports Authority chairman Benjamin Tayari and managing director William Ruto.
“This is the first of its kind in the region. These are very comfortable coaches with auxiliary features to make the passenger comfortable,” he said.
The seats can fully recline to a flat bed and there is enough leg room where one can insert the legs and sleep like they are at home.
Each seat has its own wireless charging port, reading light, USB ports and a foldable table.
The dining coach has four charging sockets at each table unlike the current one which has one charging socket at each end of the dining coach.
The same has been incorporated in the economy class.
There are also special coaches dedicated for persons with disability, the injured or the elderly.
These coaches have more leg room and a special place for wheelchairs. They also have washrooms for the PWDs.
The economy class coaches also have special baby changing rooms for eventualities and rooms for lactating mothers to breastfeed.
KRC said they will withdraw the current coaches gradually for redesigning.
The two power cars are more powerful than the current one.
The current power cars can run 13 coaches while the new one can run up to 20 coaches.
This means there will be more passengers per trip than the current operation.
“We have been really struggling with demand of SGR. We are now able to try and meet the demand,” Daghar said.