Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei has announced that President William Ruto will inaugurate the Premium Class Coach of the Standard Guage Railway next month.
However, Kenyans had mixed feelings about the new premium coaches for the Madaraka Express passenger train.
This comes after Transport PS Mohamed Daghar, who inspected the four new coaches, stated that a one-way trip costs Sh12,000 and a return ticket costs Sh20,000.
Kadzandani MCA. Fatma Kushe, the vice chairperson of the Mombasa County Assembly Health Committee, believes KRC should have considered increasing health facilities in the coaches rather than adding more luxury.
“What happens if you are in the business, first or economy class and you get choked by food or you faint? Kushe asked.
“Are there standby nurses on board? Is there any room that can act as a sick bay instead of an announcement calling for any doctor on board?”
However, Kenya Railways’ Managing Director, Philip Maingi, has defended the Sh12,000 one-way ticket price.
According to Maingi, the ticket price is reasonable and will include entertainment and fine dining services.
“It’s costly, yes, but look at the services provided. The entertainment, spacious adjustable seats, and fine dining services are top-notch—there’s value for money,” Maingi said.
“There has also been a demand for VIP First Class coaches. Last year, we registered a staggering 2.5 million passengers.”
PS Sing’oei also defended the Premium Class Coash ticket prices, claiming that the VVIP services in the coaches are used for marketing purposes when visiting high-profile dignitaries.
“The services here outmatch what they experience in developed countries. This will, in return, boost foreign exchange,” Sing’oei said.
Commercial services for the Premium Class Coach will begin in September following an inaugural test ride that ended in Mombasa after a 5-hour journey.
According to Kenya Railways, the first four premium coaches, each with a capacity of 28 passengers, are equipped with luxurious adjustable seats, a charging area, and entertainment features.
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