Verified 13 September 2026

What you must carry on the SGR, and what you cannot bring

By Aisha Hassan · Madaraka Express hub · paybillke is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Madaraka Express.

You must carry the original identification document used at booking and the original ticket. Photocopies are not enough to board. Luggage is capped at 30 kilograms and one metre by one metre by one metre. Pets are not allowed on the trains or at the stations.

The eight documents Kenya Railways accepts

Any one of these, in original:

Kenyan National Identification Card
Valid passport
Military identification card
Valid diplomatic ID
Valid alien card (Kenyan)
Valid driving licence
Kenya Police abstract, valid for six months
Birth certificate, for minors under twelve

The details must match the passenger details on the ticket. This is also why a ticket cannot be handed to somebody else: the check is against the person, not the purchase.

Luggage

Each passenger may bring items on board up to 30 kilograms, measuring no more than one metre in height by one metre in breadth by one metre in width. Kenya Railways advises attaching a tag with your personal details, which is the difference between a bag that finds you and a bag that sits in a lost-property room.

Lost property

Anything found on a train is handed to the passenger stewards and held. To claim it you visit the arrival station and identify the item before collecting. Notification has to happen within 30 days of the incident, after which the trail goes cold. Lost property enquiries go to 0709 388 887.

Pets, parking and food

Pets are not allowed on the trains or at the stations. The two Kenya Railways sources differ slightly in wording, one saying trains and one saying trains and stations; assume the stricter reading.

Parking is available and secure. Overnight parking costs KSh 200 per night and you must inform security that the vehicle is staying.

Catering on board is run by NAS Serve Air Ltd. Premium fares include meals; other classes buy on board.

Kenya Railways also publishes a list of prohibited items as a separate PDF on metickets.krc.co.ke. If you are carrying anything you would hesitate to take through an airport, read it before you pack.

At the gate

Boarding is by QR code: you hold the square barcode on your ticket against the scanner at the entry gate and it opens. That means the ticket has to be printed and legible, so check the barcode printed cleanly before you leave the ticketing hall.

About this page

paybillke is an independent payments directory. We are not Kenya Railways and we cannot see, change or refund your booking. Fares, schedules and rules on this page were read directly off Kenya Railways sources on 13 September 2026 and are cited as such. For anything that costs money, confirm on metickets.krc.co.ke or call 0709 388 887 before you pay.

Frequently asked

What ID do I need for the SGR?

An original Kenyan ID, passport, military ID, diplomatic ID, alien card, driving licence, six-month police abstract, or a birth certificate for under-12s. Originals only.

What is the SGR luggage limit?

30 kilograms per passenger, and no larger than one metre by one metre by one metre.

Can I bring my dog on the SGR?

No. Pets are not allowed on the trains or at the stations.

Is there parking at the SGR terminus?

Yes, and it is secure. Overnight parking costs KSh 200 per night and you must tell security the vehicle is staying.

Is there food on the SGR?

Yes. NAS Serve Air Ltd runs the onboard catering. Premium fares include meals.