Passengers using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train service will not be allowed to pay in cash to travel from next month, the Kenya Railways has announced.
In a notice on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, the State corporation said the train service christened Madaraka Express will go cashless from February 1.
“We wish to notify our customers and the general public that effective February 1, 2023, we will no longer be accepting cash for the purchase of tickets at all Madaraka Express Passenger Service stations,” the notice reads in part.
The management advised its customers to use mobile money services or debit/credit cards to pay for their tickets.
“Customers are therefore advised to use M-Pesa or debit/credit cards at all Points of Service. We thank you for your continued support,” Kenya Railways said.
— Kenya Railways (@KenyaRailways_) January 24, 2023
The SGR passenger train service was launched in the country by President Uhuru Kenyatta in June 2019.
SGR scammers exposed
Kenya Railways has in the recent past been on high alert over online fraudsters targeting SGR passengers.
In a statement in October last year, Kenya Railways said fraudsters behind the scam pose as employees of the corporation with intention of defrauding Madaraka Express customers.
The scammers are said to lure their potential victims through phone calls, text messages and social media posts and purport to offer ticket cancellation and refund services.
The management urged members of the public to be on the lookout and not to comply with requests to share personal information.
“We are aware of phone calls, text messages and social media posts from third parties posing as Kenya Railways staff, whose intention is to defraud our passengers.
“If you are a victim of this suspicious activity, please do not comply with the fraudsters’ request to share your personal information,” Kenya Railways said.
The agency further exposed the phone numbers used by the fraudsters as 0202460005 and 0202470005.
“Kenya Railways would never ask for your bank details, or Personal Identification numbers to your M-Pesa or social media accounts, in order to facilitate cancellations and refunds of already purchased tickets. Please note that the phone numbers in use by the fraudsters, 0202460005 and 0202470005, do not belong to Kenya Railways,” the corporation warned.
