The SGR passenger train. [Photo/ kenyareporter.co.ke]Travelers using the Madaraka Express train at the Miritini station in Mombasa have complained of walking for long distances in order to access the terminal.
PSV vehicles are barred from dropping passengers beyond a bridge near the terminus- about 300 metres away.
“It is a problem for us to walk with children and luggage especially when one arrives a few minutes before the train leaves,” Business Daily on Wednesday quoted one Allan Kolongo as saying.
“As we speak, a woman who had luggage and children has missed the train because she was dropped far away, there is enough parking outside the terminal and we cannot understand why matatus are not allowed to drop us there. It seems those being favoured are people with personal cars which is not right,” he said.
Equally, those going to pick arriving passengers have to drive back to Miritini shopping centre if they need to use toilet facilities as those at the station are only available for people travelling.
The passengers also said there was no waiting bay outside the railway station.
Kenya Railways was expected to introduce inter-county trains starting July 1 but postponed the launch citing lack of adequate locomotives.
The inter-county trains were expected to stop at seven stations between Nairobi and Mombasa, easing movement of passengers from county to county.
The SGR line traverses the counties of Taita Taveta and Machakos.