Despite the hype that occasioned the commencement of commercial operations at Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge train, reports have revealed that only one passenger turned up and made theĀ trip from Ibadan to Lagos yesterday as the train started operating.
According to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), the newly introduced service provides fully air-conditioned train services in the Economy, Business and First Class categories.
It was gathered that the corporation deployed only one Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) to kick-start the operation.
This is coming as Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, announced a price regime of N3,000 for the Economy, N5,000 for the Business and N6,000 for First Class; a development that saw Nigerians appeal for a reduction of the fares the considered as unaffordable for the masses.
Meanwhile, the inaugural train service, which commenced from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, it was learnt, left at about 8.20 a.m. and arrived Lagos at 10.40 a.m. with less than five passengers on board, while no passenger was picked at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
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The Railway District Manager for Lagos, Jerry Oche said:
We had one passenger from Ibadan to Lagos, and this is not unusual. The service is just commencing. Iām sure as time goes on, the patronage will improve. Donāt forget again that we are approaching Christmas and New Year when patronage is expected to drastically improve.
The Lagos Ibadan standard gauge train affords members of the public the opportunity to leave Ibadan for Lagos at 8 a.m and return at 4 p.m the same day.
The district manager confirmed that the journey time from Lagos to Ibadan lasts two and a half hours.
This, he said, āmakes more sense, going by recent reports of traffic gridlock that has characterised Lagos-Ibadan road, due to ongoing road construction along that axis.ā
Oche urged Nigerians to embrace the new Lagos-Ibadan standard guage train service, describing it as as a new dawn in railway modernisation.
The district manager added that all major rules and regulations guiding train operations, like the use of nose masks and hand-washing in compliance with COVID-19 protocols, must be observed.