How to book the SGR (Madaraka Express), and the only three channels that exist
By Aisha Hassan · Madaraka Express hub · paybillke is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Madaraka Express.
There are three official booking channels and no others: the website metickets.krc.co.ke, the USSD code *639# on a Safaricom line, and the counter at any Madaraka Express station. Booking opens 60 days before travel. Anyone selling you a ticket outside those three is not selling you a ticket you can board with.
The three channels
- Online at metickets.krc.co.ke. Pick train type (Inter-County, Express or Suswa), your two stations, the date, and a departure time where one is offered. Available 24/7.
- USSD: dial *639# on a Safaricom line and follow the prompts. Also available 24/7, and the only channel that works without a smartphone or data.
- Counter: over the counter at the nearest Madaraka Express Passenger Service station. The booking office opens at 6:30 am and closes at 8:30 pm.
What the limits actually are
The advance booking window is 60 days. A return ticket has to sit inside the same 60-day window, so you cannot book an outbound at day 58 and a return at day 70.
Online and USSD both cap a single transaction at ten passengers. If you are moving more people than that, you are making several bookings.
Ticket sales close 30 minutes before departure on the Mombasa–Nairobi section, and 10 minutes before departure on the Nairobi–Suswa section. After that the train is closed to new sales even if seats are empty.
On group bookings, the two official sources disagree
This is worth knowing before you plan a trip for a large party. Kenya Railways publishes two answers on two of its own sites.
The krc.co.ke FAQ says group bookings of over 20 passengers must be made 62 days before the travel date. The metickets.krc.co.ke FAQ says, flatly, “We do not facilitate group bookings”, and lists the same three ordinary channels instead.
Both pages were live on 13 September 2026. We are not going to pick the tidier answer for you. If you are moving a group, call 0709 388 887 and get it settled by a person before you build a plan around either version.
Booking by phone
Buy from Kenya Railways, nobody else
Kenya Railways puts this warning in its own FAQ, in bold: "Do not keep in contact with any individual seeking to sell you tickets using other ways or means." There are exactly three legitimate channels, and they are listed on this page. A ticket is not transferable and the ID on the ticket must match the person travelling, so a ticket bought in somebody else's name is a ticket you cannot board with.
If someone offers you a seat on a sold-out train for a fee, what they are selling you cannot work.
| Channel | Hours | Max per transaction | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| metickets.krc.co.ke | 24/7 | 10 passengers | Internet, M-PESA |
| USSD *639# | 24/7 | 10 passengers | Safaricom line only |
| Station counter | 6:30 am – 8:30 pm | Ask at the counter | Original ID, cash/POS/M-PESA |
| Phone 0709 388888 | 8:30 am – 8:30 pm | Ask on the call | A phone |
Frequently asked
How do I book SGR online?
Go to metickets.krc.co.ke, choose train type, stations, date and time, then pay by M-PESA. Booking opens 60 days before travel.
What is the SGR USSD code?
*639# on a Safaricom line. It works 24/7 and does not need a smartphone or data.
How far in advance can I book the SGR?
60 days. A return ticket has to fall inside the same 60-day window.
How many tickets can I book at once?
Ten passengers per transaction on both the website and USSD.
Can I book a group of more than 20?
Kenya Railways publishes two different answers on two of its own sites: krc.co.ke says 62 days in advance, metickets says group bookings are not facilitated at all. Call 0709 388 887 and confirm before planning.
How late can I buy a ticket?
Sales stop 30 minutes before departure on the Mombasa–Nairobi section and 10 minutes before on the Nairobi–Suswa section.