Commercial Operations on Lagos-Ibadan Railway Begin October

• Commercial Operations on Lagos-Ibadan Railway Begin October

The Chairman, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan, has said commercial passenger and cargo movement will begin on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line by October.

Alhassan stated this on Thursday when he led a 24-member newly constituted board of directors on a tour of the project.

He stated that one of the tracks had already been constructed up to kilometre 154, adding “What remains are the two branch lines, one, into the works yard and the other that will connect the Ibadan dry port.” These, he said, would be completed by the end of July.

He said the Federal Government had ordered 30 engines, 63 coaches, 200 wagons, a conference coach and a super sleeper with a spa and other facilities to make this possible.

According to him, two diesel multiple units of 30 coaches have been purchased and will be delivered before December.

Alhassan, who also unveiled the conference coach, inside which members of the board held an inaugural meeting, said the NRC had invested so much on the rail system and would be happy to see firms holding their board meetings or conferences on the train’s conference coach.

The Managing Director of the NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, said the corporation was working to ensure a smooth take-off of commercial activities on the Lagos-Ibadan railway.

‘’Commercial operation will begin on this road by October and we want to assure Nigerians that they can board the train from Agege in Lagos and land at Ibadan within one hour,’’ he said.

According to him, studies by the NRC shows that the route will be over-subscribed and upon completion, passengers will be able to move between Lagos-Ibadan in one hour.