The Nigerian Railway Corporation has expanded its train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route, increasing the number of services from four to six on weekdays, specifically from Monday to Friday.
A statement signed by the Deputy Director of Public Relations, Yakub Mohmood, on Wednesday, disclosed the update.
This expansion aims to meet the growing demand for train services on the route.
The corporation explained that the decision followed a five-month trend analysis, which revealed a 22 per cent increase in the number of new passengers registering on the ticket platform to use the Abuja-Kaduna service.
This growth reflects a significant rise in the number of Nigerians opting for train services as their preferred mode of transportation due to its comfort, reliability, and safety.
Mohmood highlighted the corporation’s commitment to improving customer satisfaction and addressing complaints of ticket racketeering.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Railway Corporation, reaffirming its commitment to responding to customer demands, improving customer satisfaction, and tackling complaints of ticket racketeering, has increased the number of train services from four to six from Monday to Friday when demand tends to peak on its AKTS route.
“According to the Acting Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr. Ben Iloanusi, trend analysis over five months revealed a significant increase of 22 per cent in the number of new passengers registering on the ticket platform to use the Abuja-Kaduna service, signifying a surge in the number of Nigerians turning to train services as a comfortable, reliable, and safe commuting option.”
The NRC also noted that similar trends have been observed on the Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe, and Port Harcourt-Aba routes, with efforts already underway to enhance services along these routes as well.
The statement added, “The Ag. MD assured Nigerians of the increased presence of NRC Senior Management across all train service routes to drive continuous efficiency and tackle the issue of ticket racketeering head-on.
“Our valued customers are encouraged to use NRC ticket platforms online to take advantage of the increased services and avoid patronising ticket racketeers.
“Additional information can be obtained from the NRC website – www.nrc.gov.ng.”
The expanded services on the Abuja-Kaduna route follow similar enhancements on the Lagos-Ibadan route, which now includes additional trips on Fridays and Saturdays to accommodate increasing demand.