The Madaraka Train App is a mobile application designed to provide a seamless and visually pleasing experience for Kenyans to book train tickets. The app aims to simplify the ticket booking process, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

Kenyans have been facing several challenges while trying to book Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) tickets online. Here are some of the issues:

Technical Issues: There have been instances where passengers were unable to book the SGR Madaraka Express train tickets online due to technical hitches that affected the online ticketing system.

High Demand: The high number of people travelling daily between Nairobi and Mombasa makes booking SGR Madaraka express train tickets a challenge. It is advisable to purchase the tickets about three to four days in advance.

Payment Difficulties: Although the system allows for payment via M-Pesa, some users may experience difficulties during the payment process.

Ticket Confirmation: After booking, users need to confirm their SGR ticket to know the travel date, departure time, coach number, and seat number. This process can be confusing for some users.

Before the app, booking a train ticket in Kenya was a tedious process that involved long queues and paperwork. There was a need for a solution that would make this process more efficient and enjoyable for users.

We conducted user interviews and surveys to understand the needs and pain points of our target users. The findings revealed that users wanted a simple, fast, and secure way to book train tickets. They also expressed a desire for a visually pleasing interface.

Our primary users are Kenyans who frequently travel by train. They range from business professionals who commute daily to students and families who travel occasionally. Our user persona, “John”, is a 30-year-old businessman who travels frequently between Nairobi and Mombasa for work. He values efficiency and convenience and prefers to handle his travel arrangements digitally to save time.

Here’s a simplified user journey map for our user persona, John:

Awareness: John learns about the app through an online ad.

Consideration: John downloads the app and explores its features.

Purchase: John books his first train ticket using the app. He finds the process simple and efficient.

Service: John receives a confirmation email with his ticket details. He appreciates the convenience of digital tickets.

Loyalty: Satisfied with his experience, John decides to use the app for all his future train travel needs.

Based on the user research, we designed the app with the following features:

Easy Navigation: The app has a simple and intuitive interface that allows users to navigate easily. The main functions, such as searching for trains, selecting seats, and making payments, are easily accessible.

Visual Appeal: The app uses a clean and modern design with a pleasing color scheme. The use of visuals, such as images of the trains and the destinations, enhances the user experience.

Secure Payment: The app integrates with popular payment platforms in Kenya, providing a secure and convenient way for users to pay for their tickets.

Ticket Management: Users can view, manage, and cancel their bookings directly from the app. This feature eliminates the need for physical tickets, making the process more efficient.

Now that i had good idea on the flow of the app, i started roughly sketching out the main user flows i wanted to focus on.

We conducted user testing sessions to validate our design decisions. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with users appreciating the simplicity and visual appeal of the app.

The Madaraka Train App successfully addresses the needs of its users by providing a simple, efficient, and visually pleasing platform for booking train tickets. The app demonstrates the power of good UX design in solving real-world problems and enhancing user satisfaction.

Based on user feedback, future improvements could include features like real-time train tracking, loyalty programs, and integration with other modes of transport. These enhancements would further improve the user experience and make the app even more valuable to its users.