Kenya Railways apologises for technical hitch disrupting online booking

Kenya Railways has announced the disruption of online booking services for the Standard Guage Railway trains.

In a notice on Friday, Kenya Railways said the was caused by technical issues on the systems.

"We are currently experiencing a technical challenge with our booking platforms. As a result, customers are unable to purchase tickets online," read the notice in part.

Kenya Railway said their technical team is addressing the issue adding that normalcy will be restored as soon as possible.

“Therefore, those seeking to make their bookings were requested to do them physically as the technical hitch is resolved,” it read.

It advised customers to purchase tickets over the counter at the nearest Madaraka Express Passenger Service station.

"We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused," Kenya Railways added.

Kenya Railways gradually began taking over SGR operations from Africa Star Railway Operation Company in 2021.

Last year, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) generated revenues totalling Sh18.2 billion as at the end of the last financial year, financial records show.

The amount represented a 21.2 per cent increase in revenues as of the end of June 30, 2023.

The growth was fuelled by an increase in cargo haulage and passenger traffic during the period under review.

According to the Economic Survey Report 2023 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the increase is despite container traffic through the Port of Mombasa reducing 1.9pc, from 34,661,000 to 33,880,000 tonnes in 2022 which is attributed to a decline in import of dry bulk cargo.