Good news for anyone interested in train travel in Kenya: after 46 years, a passenger train is once again running to Nyahururu. On 2 June, the first Nyahururu Safari Train departed from Nairobi, travelling along the restored railway line via Gilgil and Ol Kalou to Nyahururu.

The service is intended to reconnect the four places by rail and is seen by Kenya Railways not only as a way to improve accessibility, but also as a new opportunity for domestic tourism. The railway line was put back into use after 46 years for both passenger and freight transport.

Train to Nyahururu returns after 46 years

Passenger services on the railway line between Gilgil, Ol Kalou and Nyahururu had been suspended since around 1980. After years of being out of use, the route has been rehabilitated and reopened.

The first passenger train travelled from Nairobi to Nyahururu on 2 June 2026. The route runs via Gilgil and Ol Kalou, reconnecting several places in central Kenya to the railway network.

This is therefore not an entirely new railway line. Existing railway infrastructure has been restored for train services.

Kenya Railways calls the service the Nyahururu Safari Train and also refers to its historical name, Thomson’s Falls Rail.

De Nyahururu Safari Train

The train runs from Nairobi via Gilgil and Ol Kalou to Nyahururu. Kenya Railways presents the service as a combination of transport, history and tourism.

Nyahururu’s location makes the route particularly interesting for travellers. The town is located near the Aberdare region and the famous Thomson’s Falls. Kenya Railways therefore specifically highlights the landscape and surroundings of the Aberdares as part of the train experience.

At the same time, the train is not intended solely for tourists. The service should also provide an affordable way to travel between Nairobi and the places along the route.

Twice a week from Nairobi to Nyahururu

The Nyahururu Safari Train runs twice a week from Nairobi. The train departs on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.00 from Nairobi. Along the way, the train stops in places including Gilgil and Ol Kalou. Arrival in Nyahururu is scheduled for around 17.50.

The return journey to Nairobi takes place on Wednesdays and Sundays. This train also departs Nyahururu at 10.00 and arrives in Nairobi at around 17.50, according to the timetable. Here you can find the timetable for this train.

The train therefore does not run daily. Anyone wanting to use the route during a trip through Kenya will need to plan the rest of their journey around the timetable.

How much does the train to Nyahururu cost?

A one-way journey from Nairobi to Nyahururu costs 600 Kenyan shillings in Economy Class. First Class costs 1,300 Kenyan shillings.

Separate fares have also been set for shorter journeys. From Nairobi to Gilgil, an Economy ticket costs 450 shillings, while the fare to Ol Kalou is 550 shillings. For Gilgil–Ol Kalou, you pay 100 shillings in Economy and 200 shillings in First Class. Gilgil–Nyahururu costs 150 and 350 shillings respectively. Here you can find the train fares.

These fares make the train relatively affordable for both residents and travellers who want to explore Kenya by public transport.

A historic trainline comes back to life

The connection to Nyahururu has a long history. The railway line was part of Kenya’s older railway network and was used for both passenger and freight transport.

After passenger services ended, much of the route fell into disuse. The recent works therefore focused mainly on rehabilitating the existing railway line and stations.

The reopening is an example of how existing railway infrastructure can be used again. Rather than constructing an entirely new rail connection, a historic route has been restored for train services.

Interesting for train travel in Kenya

For travellers who want to combine train travel in Kenya with destinations outside the best-known routes, the new service is interesting.

Most international visitors are familiar with the Madaraka Express between Nairobi and Mombasa. The Nyahururu Safari Train opens up a completely different direction: from Nairobi towards central Kenya and the Aberdare region.

You can therefore use the train as part of a trip to Nyahururu and the surrounding area. For the final part of your journey, you will probably still need local transport, depending on exactly where you want to go.

The train is therefore not an alternative to all transport in Kenya, but it does add a new option to a journey where you want to travel by public transport as much as possible.

Not just Nairobi and Nyahururu are connected again

The restored connection is also interesting because several places along the route are being reconnected to the railway network.

The train runs from Nairobi via Gilgil and Ol Kalou to Nyahururu. The route between Gilgil and Nyahururu is approximately 78 kilometres long.

For residents of Gilgil and Ol Kalou, the reopening means they can once again travel directly by train towards Nairobi and Nyahururu. This gives the railway line a broader function than simply serving as a tourist train.

At the reopening, Kenya Railways therefore emphasised both accessibility and affordable transport, as well as domestic tourism.