The Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kenya, specifically the Madaraka Express passenger service, has significantly boosted the country’s tourism sector and local economies, nearly a decade after its launch. It has revitalized access to major wildlife conservation areas like Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, transforming previously quiet gateway towns such as Voi and Mtito Andei.

• The SGR stretches 472 kilometers between Nairobi and Mombasa, cutting travel time to five hours.
• According to managing director Philip Mainga of Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), eight out of 10 tourists now use the service.
• Voi alone now sees an average of 900 passengers boarding and alighting weekly, with lodges like Voi Wildlife Lodge and Lion Hill Safari Lodge reporting notable increases in guest arrivals, especially since the introduction of a nighttime stopover on December 15, 2024.