Despite the return of normalcy on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line, it has been witnessing low passenger patronage, barely 24 hours after the resumption of train services by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on that route.
The low passenger turnout has been experienced on that route since resumption of rail services after the quick repairs of the damaged portion of the rail track despite the heavy deployment of security forces to ensure safety of passengers.
According to NAN, activities at the Rigasa station on Sunday indicated that in spite of the resumption of normal train services, the turnout of passengers travelling from Kaduna to Abuja was still low.
Passengers apathy
It observed that the train, with a carrying capacity of 928 passengers per trip, had barely 300 passengers on board traveling to Abuja, leaving over half of the seats empty.
The passengers who insisted that the train service still remained the safest means of transportation despite the attack a few days ago, however, urged the government to ensure that they improved security along the rail lines and its surrounding areas.
The various passengers expressed delight at the prompt intervention of the NRC which led to the quick resumption of train services especially with the upcoming festive period and has dispelled the fears of the general public.
They said that this will further reduce the heavy traffic on the highway with the increasing risk of road crashes and even attacks by criminal elements who operate on that route.
In case you missed it
- Recall that on Thursday, October 21, 2021, the NRC announced the immediate suspension of rail service operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route following the alleged detonation of explosives on the train track by bandits.
- This comes after an overnight attack which was reported to have occurred between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, left passengers traumatised, with witnesses reporting that the attackers also fired live rounds into driver compartments.
- The NRC, however, announced the resumption of Abuja–Kaduna train services on Saturday, October 23, 2021, after the repairs on the damaged rail tracks.
Y’all better hop back on that train before they use the kidnappers on kd to abj road as motivation. Bye!
I was just wondering about the logic of this report coming up within 24 hours of the restart of the trains operations. Then I read this on Facebook
“The Kaduna- Abuja train resumes within 48 hours of disruption to its services and people celebrated that quick maintenance turnaround. This report tells us there was low turnout of passengers within 24 hours of operations resuming. The report itself says ‘barely 24 hours’, yet it chooses to dwell on such a predictable development to push a negative narrative off what was largely recorded as positive. It is an obsession with the negative”…Simbo Olorunfemi
Thanks to.Mr Olorunfemi for.countering your daily negativity. .Something at least should have told u your report within 24 hours of resumption will be portraying a fake reality. Your anti govrnment reports makes u sound less reliabe daily.