RAILWAYMAN

·          *Patronage is increasing ·          *Weekend services commence this weekend The Lagos Railway District Manager, Jerry Oche has defended the train fares for the Lagos to Ibadan Mass Transit Train, insisting that the charges are reasonable. “How much will be fair? How much do you think we’ll charge that would make sense? No matter how much you charge, there will still be people that will complain. A lot of people are saying trains are supposed to be the mass transit and so it should be for everybody? But again, let me ask you… Do you want us to run the train for only for one week week, one month or six months and then park the train or you want us to run a train that can sustain itself? ... People have to pay some price, reasonable". Jerry Oche asserted during an exclusive chat with RAILWAYMAN in his office at Alagomeji, Ebute-Metta on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The RDM also made further ...

  Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC on  Monday, December 7, 2020 commenced commercial train operations on the new Lagos –Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway Line. The commencement of a daily passenger train service from Ibadan to Lagos must have come as surprise to members of thee public, judging from the low turnout that greeted this first day run. Although Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi has given the impression that train operations on the new line will not start until when construction work on station buildings and other facilities would have been completed in January 2021. But Lagos District Manager, Engr. Jerry Oche explains that  commencement of commercial operations is different from presidential inauguration. The passenger service provides fast and conducive travel in fully air-conditioned ultra modern coaches in different categories  of coaches. RAILWAYMAN interacted with the passengers who were obviously impressed with the ambience and reception. I...

The corana virus pandemic has truly had its adverse effect on the world. Businesses have continued to count huge losses world over. Some have even shut shops. VIA Rail in Canada last week announced plans to lay off it's unionised, management and professional staff due to a plunge in ridership and revenue. "To help manage the pandemic’s financial impacts, it has taken these measures, among others: temporarily laying off unionized, management and professional employees; reducing “certain operating expenses in proportion with the level of operations,” publicity and advertising activities, and in-station services; and reducing administrative costs and postponing non-essential initiatives." The Chief Financial Officer of the Canadian Rail Corporation however says the decision to lay off  is not a total termination of appointments“We have had to make tough decisions over the past few months, and we recognize that these are difficult times for our employees, but our objective re...

 INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, STAKE HOLDERS RAISE EYEBROWS  The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday December 4, 2020 announced new fares for the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Passenger Train Service.  Speaking during the inauguration of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration(CIOTA) in Abuja, the minister disclosed that he has received the mandate of President Mohammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Lagos-Ibadan Train come January, 2021. According to the minister, the Economy Class would cost N3000, while the Business Class and First Class would cost N5,000 and N6,000 respectively. He noted that the price is a transfer of the rates that apply on the Abuja-Kaduna Train. The announcement of the fare prices have thrown up mixed reactions among industry watchers. While some have no qualms with the rates as they would enjoy shorter journey time, when compared to traveling by public buses and traveling on narrow gauge,...