LAGOS-IBADAN STANDARD GAUGE TRAIN COMMENCE OPERATIONS

 

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. It was first time on train for some.

RAILWAYMAN also discovered that the minimum cost for the 156 kilometres journey is N2500 (two thousand, five hundred Naira) per ticket and not N3000, as was widely reported in the media. Jerry Oche explains that the rates are also not flat but are according to categories and zones.

According to the fair list, which has not been made public yet, the rates for Lagos to Ibadan which falls within zones 1 and 2 are N6000, N5000 and N3500 respectively in the 24, 56, and 68 seater coaches but N2000, N1500 and N1000 in similar categories from Abeakuta to Ibadan which is in zone 2. Similarly,  the fares for the four categories in zone 1(Lagos to Abeokuta) are N4500, N3500, N3000 and N2000 but N2000,  N1500  and  N600 from Abeokuta to Ibadan in zone 2. 

This means with 600 naira only, a passenger can travel from Ibadan to Abeokuta and pay same fair back in a fully air conditioned coach and enjoying good entertainment with on board security and medical  cover.

 Industry watchers see this new train service as a long awaited venture that would no doubt provide a big answer to mobility issues between Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states.

 It is also evident that the Corporation aims at taking advantage of the yuletide by providing an alternative to travelers who on most occasions get stranded due to heavy traffic gridlocks. The situation is made worse by bad state of roads and on going construction activities.

The train journey departs Ibadan (Moniya) at 8 am, arrives Lagos (Ebute-Metta) at 10.17; and departs Lagos at 4 pm to arrive Ibadan at 6.41pm.

                                                          Train staff
                                        NRC officials after dispatch of train at Lagos terminal on Monday December 7
                                                Engr. Okhiria, NRC MD after supervising train departure
                                                    interior of 56 seater coach capacity
                                            The train after arrival at Lagos Station

 

 

 

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