Share
Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
5 days ago
Overview
NRC rolls out special Sallah train services nationwide
…offers free train ride to Osogbo
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced special train service arrangements across its major corridors to ease passenger movement during the Eid el Fitr celebrations. The corporation said the initiative would see increased capacity and additional trips deployed on key routes to meet the expected surge in travel demand nationwide.
Under the arrangement, the Lagos Ibadan Train Service will operate three trips on Thursday, March 19. Departures from Mobolaji Johnson Station, Ebute Metta, will be at 7.40 am, 1.40 pm and 4.00 pm, while trains from Obafemi Awolowo Station, Moniya, Ibadan, will leave at 8.00 am, 10.50 am and 4.30 pm.
The corporation said the one day schedule adjustment was designed to accommodate increased passenger traffic, after which services would revert to the regular timetable.
On the Abuja Kaduna corridor, two trips will run on Thursday, March 19, while three daily trips have been scheduled from Friday, March 20 to Monday, March 23 to provide more travel options during the festive period.
The NRC also disclosed that, in partnership with the Osun State Government, it would operate the Imole Special Train on the narrow gauge corridor from Iddo Station in Lagos to Osogbo. The service, sponsored by the state government, will convey indigenes of Osun free of charge as part of its Sallah initiative, with the NRC providing rolling stock, technical support and operational services.
On the Warri Itakpe corridor, trains will run three times weekly. Services from Warri to Itakpe will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 8.00 am, while return trips from Itakpe to Warri will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12 noon. Thursdays have been set aside for maintenance.
Similarly, the Port Harcourt Aba train service on the eastern narrow gauge corridor will maintain its regular schedule throughout the Sallah period. The corporation reaffirmed its commitment to safe, reliable and efficient rail transport, urging passengers to plan their journeys ahead, arrive early at stations and comply with ticketing and security procedures. It also felicitated Muslim faithful on the Eid el Fitr celebration and encouraged Nigerians to continue to patronise rail transport as a safe and dependable means of travel.
Credit: The Nation
