Mr Callistus Unyimadu, Chief Public Relations Officer, NRC, said this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

Unyimadu stated that the resumption was as a result of the successful completion of repair and safety checks on the affected section of track at Asham.

“The service was temporarily suspended after the unfortunate incident of August 26.

“Since then, the corporation has worked tirelessly to ensure both the infrastructure and rolling stock are restored to the highest safety standards in line with global best practices,” he said.

Unyimadu pointed out that as part of their commitment to passenger welfare, the NRC had refunded 512 passengers out of the 583 on board the affected train.

He added that efforts were ongoing to reach and process refunds for the remaining passengers to ensure that no one was left behind.

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“The NRC appreciates the patience and understanding of its esteemed passengers and assures the public that their safety, comfort, and satisfaction remain our top priority.

“We also acknowledge the invaluable support of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, security agencies, the media, and all stakeholders during this period of recovery.

“Further details on the official resumption date and schedule will be communicated in the coming days,” he said.

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The corporation’s Director of Operations, Mr Niyi Alli, in a statement said the services would commence on January 31.

“The Board and Management of Nigerian Railway Corporation are pleased to announce the recommencement of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service.

“The service was suspended on January 27, due to the derailment that occurred at Kubwa Station on the same date.

“Subsequently, the service will resume on January 31, with the following daily schedule – KA2 departs Rigasa at 0700; AK1 departs Idu at 10.00; KA4 departs Rigasa at 13.00; AK3 departs Idu at 16.00.

“However on Wednesdays only KA2 will depart Rigasa at 0700 and  AK 3 will depart Idu at 16.00,” Alli said.

The director expressed regret on any inconvenience the corporation’s esteemed passengers might have experienced as a result of the temporary suspension of the service.

He however expressed federal government’s commitment to provide safe and better services to the public.

Source: NAN

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The Managing Director of NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, told newsmen that the corporation was also committed to ensuring the safety of passengers and crew on the route.

“The Board and Management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation hereby informs the general public, particularly our valued passengers, that Abuja – Kaduna train services (AKTS) will resume tomorrow, Saturday, October 23.

“The first train will run from, Idu, Abuja (AK3) at 0950a.m and from Rigasa Kaduna (KA4) at 1035a.m. Subsequent trains services will continue. NRC, once again, sincerely apologises for the inconvenience,” Okhiria said.

The NRC boss noted that the Police, Department of State Serivces, DSS, and other security agencies were now fully involved in safe guarding rail facilities from further attacks.

“The Commissioner of Police, DSS are now going to be fully involved. The minster also spoke about introducing technology and we have an active team that will respond to the information that will be provided by the technology,” Okhiria said.

He further urged Nigerians to stay firm and not be scared “so as not to give people, who do not wish Nigeria well, room to succeed.”

He noted that it was better to run more trains on the track as that would prevent people from interfering with the tracks.

“If we have all trains running, the people would have to work very hard to be able to plant explosives,” Okhiria explained.

On ensuring adequate means of communication along the route, the NRC boss said the corporation would try and replicate a satellite telephone system on the route, similar to what was provided on the Warri-Itakpe route.

Okhiria said the corporation could not provide transportation from rail stations to metropolis, adding  that “that is why we are hoping for a PPP so that people can organise themselves and provide that service.”

“The people can even come and key into our e-ticketing so that when the passengers come, we use their bus and at the end of the day we do our calculations. We don’t want to do that on our own. We have to make sure that the actual person who gets it can do it,” he said.

Also, Mr Pascal Nnorli, AKT Station Manager, affirmed that the challenges that arose as a result of explosion, had been surmounted, such that all was ready for the services to resume.

“The only thing that we are still going to address is the locomotive that was affected and already my men are working on that. If you go to Idu now they have dropped most of the components that were affected under it.

“Having said that it is just the windscreen and the painting that are remaining. We are set to start fully tomorrow, but we may not run full services as it might be affected,” Nnorli said.

On passengers who already had tickets before the suspension of the Abuja-Kaduna train services, Nnorli reiterated that the NRC was a responsible government agency and would not collect money for services not rendered and that such passengers would be given options to either re-route or be refunded their monies.

The Minister of Transportation,  Rotimi Amaechi, had earlier directed the NRC to resume services on the Abuja-Kaduna route, while assuring the installation of a digitalised security system along the route.

Source: NAN

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