The Nigerian railway corporation (NRC) has expressed readiness to bring back passenger and freight trains from PortHarcourt to Aba, Lagos to Kano and Kaduna, leaving aside Enugu, Owerri and Onitsha Anambra State.
The reason for ignoring Onitsha, Enugu and Imo rail services was not well stated but the NRC Managing Director Fidet Okhiria has opened up the possible plans of the corporation to start train services for both passengers and freight because of the dry ports.
The MD has said the corporation will begin the PortHarcourt -Aba, Lagos to Kano train services for both passengers and freight in the first quarter of the year 2024.
He further stated that the corporation will also begin Six train trips daily on the Standard Guage Train across the board.
While reminding Nigerians that train was meant to be operating 24Hrs, he frowned at the present situation of the country which he said had reduced the turnaround time.
MD Okhiria However added that the trips will commence before the second quarter of 2024.
“Right now, they are running four trips -two up, two down across the board. What is limiting us is the night operations, and that is not the way train should operate.
“The train is meant to operate at all times. People may like to travel in the evening, but because of the security situation in the country, we limit ourselves to the day time.
” We are going to increase the number of train trips to six on Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe and Abuja-Kaduna, which means the trips will be three times from making six trips in a day, NRC Managing Director Okhiria stated.
At the completion of the proposed Imo SeaPort by the shared prosperity administration, Imo will likely bounce back to a high economic growth and profitability. The rail lines is another huge project to embark upon in the state.
Princely Onyenwe reporting
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