A memorable ride in the new Diesel Mobile Units

After the official launch of the city commuter trains by President Uhuru Kenyatta, I had the opportunity to take a ride on the new Diesel Mobile Unit (DMU) train from the Nairobi central Station to Embakasi. On reaching the CBD station on Tuesday afternoon, I meet two friendly Kenyan police officers and two security guards who conduct security checks before allowing passengers in.

Like in airports, only ticket holders are allowed to go beyond security checks, with security turnstiles in place to ensure this.

There is a ticketing office adjacent to this room where passengers can buy tickets before proceeding to the boarding area.

The boarding area of the Nairobi Central Station is spacious. At the centre stands a wide board with commuter train schedules for the CBD to Ruiru, Embakasi, Syokimau, Kikuyu and Athi River routes. There are also four display screens showing the real-time schedules of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for passengers who are on their way to catch flights, BRT buses, the SGR train schedule and the commuter train schedule.

The area looks newly renovated with seemingly new Swahili style carved doors, newly painted walls and pillars and seemingly restored floors. Other visible amenities include a small shop selling snacks and drinks, a restaurant and bar, which we are informed will be reopened in a few weeks, a VIP lounge that hosts dignitaries who might be using the trains and a new tunnel that makes it safe for passengers to move across to other boarding platforms without having to cross the rail tracks. There is also a turnstile for the disabled and benches where passengers can sit as they await their trains.

My train was scheduled for 1.30pm and so, at exactly 1.20pm, passengers were asked to get on board. We are ushered in by two train attendants who check each passenger’s ticket as they board.

On board

The train departed at exactly 1.30 pm at an average speed of about 50km/h, which later accelerated as we left the station. Passengers are allowed free seating but due to the Covid-19 precautions, only two passengers are allowed per two seats. The train has blue and green non-adjustable seats with no seat belts as the passengers are allowed to stand and walk in the coaches as the train speeds along. The train is quite spacious with good lighting and air conditioning.

At exactly 1.42 pm we arrive at our first stop, the Makadara station, where we made a two-minute stop to allow passengers to alight and others to board before we proceeded to the next stop. I notice that there is a new fence erected alongside the railway line, perhaps a precautionary measure to bar pedestrians from crossing the railway tracks.

We spoke to two passengers about what they thought about the ride. George Mirikau was headed to Embakasi where he resides. He says the train is very convenient for people who want to avoid traffic jams.

“This is my second time using the train. I like using the train to avoid the traffic jam from Embakasi village to town. So the service is pretty good. We leave our cars at the railway station, that is Embakasi Village, then we jump into the train. Like I was here in the morning, I used the morning DMU and now I am going back in the afternoon DMU. So it is very convenient in terms of reaching town on time and avoiding the jam and the parking issues in the city centre,” says Mirikau.

“This is the third time I am using the DMU train. Although most of the time I live in Mombasa, I am used to the SGR and when I come here, I enjoy using this one compared to the old train. Within 30 minutes I am in Utawala Village then I take 10 minutes to Utawala,” says Collins Wekesa, another passenger.

The introductory flat-rate fare for each ride on the DMU trains is Sh100, a price that Kenyans online expressed dissatisfaction with especially during off-pick hours. However, the two passengers have reason to believe that the price is fair.

“I think it is fair because if I was using my car, maybe looking at fuel it is about Sh300, parking in town is about Sh300 and also you have to risk someone breaking into your car. Just for Sh100, I think it’s worth it. Compared to the time I would waste on the road where I will use almost Sh100 or Sh120 on an hour-long ride and I will get home very tired, “ adds Wekesa.

The train made three other stops taking four minutes from Makadara to Donholm, four minutes from Donholm to Pipeline and another eight minutes from Pipeline to Embakasi. Each coach can accommodate a total of 30 people.

“There’s a big difference. You cannot compare the old train to this one. In this one, you are seated comfortably. You can do your things, you can take a drink, the other one you could not even take a drink or carry something,” explains Wekesa as he illustrates how it feels to ride on the old train.

We arrived in Embakasi Village train station at exactly 2.04 pm; right on schedule. Here the train will wait 16 minutes before departure to the CBD. This is certainly an experience you should consider.