By the 254.ke Newsroom
Kenya Railways launched a dedicated CMA CGM block train between the Port of Mombasa and the Inland Container Depot (ICD) Embakasi in Nairobi on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The inaugural run carried 108 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), and the service is meant to add to the freight already moving on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Madaraka Freight metre-gauge operations.
Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar and France’s Ambassador to Kenya, Wadid Benaabou, oversaw the first trip, according to Kenyans.co.ke and Kenya Today.
What is a block train?
A block train moves a pre-allocated batch of containers bound for one destination without splitting the consist along the way. In this case the train carries only CMA CGM containers. Reports describe a typical block as 50 to more than 100 TEUs per trip.
Kenya Railways, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and CMA CGM will coordinate vessel discharge, container segregation, transfer to rail, train scheduling and unloading at Embakasi.
Key facts at a glance
- Route: Port of Mombasa to ICD Embakasi, Nairobi
- Launch date: October 28, 2026
- First trip: 108 TEUs, per Kenyans.co.ke and Kenya Today
- Wagons: 54, per DataPortuaria
- Frequency: initially one train a week, per DataPortuaria
- Partners: Kenya Railways, KPA, CMA CGM
- Initial cargo: containerised imports to Embakasi
How often will the train run?
DataPortuaria reports the service will initially run one train a week. It adds that this phase will assess customer demand before deciding whether to raise the frequency and introduce a return service from Nairobi to Mombasa. Kenyans.co.ke and Kenya Today do not give a schedule.
The reports put the existing SGR and Madaraka Freight operations at nine to 10 block trains a day, so a weekly service is a small addition for now.
Who was at the launch?
DataPortuaria lists KPA chief executive Capt. William K. Ruto, Kenya Railways managing director Philip J. Mainga, and CMA CGM’s Naveen Prabhu and Benjamin Coston among those present. Prabhu called the launch an important milestone for the shipping line in Kenya.
Daghar said partnerships between maritime and rail players help connect infrastructure, businesses and markets, according to the same report.
What is still unclear?
None of the reports reviewed state the transit time between Mombasa and Embakasi, the tariff, or whether the train runs on the SGR or the metre-gauge line. Kenya Railways has invited importers, exporters, shipping lines and cargo owners to explore dedicated rail freight, and says the service could help open markets in Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kenya Railways also says moving freight from road to rail cuts emissions by 50 to 67 per cent compared with long-distance trucking. That figure is the agency’s claim, and it is not tied to this specific train.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kenya Railways CMA CGM block train?
It is a dedicated freight train carrying only CMA CGM containers from the Port of Mombasa to ICD Embakasi, launched on October 28, 2026.
How many containers did the first train carry?
108 TEUs, reported across the sources. DataPortuaria says that is 54 wagons.
Will the train run daily?
Not at first. The initial plan reported is one train per week, with frequency and a return service to be reviewed after demand is assessed.
Who can use the service?
This block train carries CMA CGM containers only. Kenya Railways has separately invited importers, exporters and shipping lines to explore dedicated rail freight solutions.
For earlier coverage of the railway’s finances and passenger offering, see Audit Exposes Kenya Railways’ Financial Woes and Luxury on Rails: SGR Introduces Premium Travel Experience. Details of the launch are also reported by Kenyans.co.ke.
Figures as reported on October 28, 2026; 254.ke will update if Kenya Railways publishes a schedule or tariff.
