Only one passenger turned up and made the historic trip from Ibadan yesterday, as the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge train commenced commercial operation.
The newly introduced service, according to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) provides full air conditioned train services in the economy, business and first class category.
But the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) deployed only one Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) to flag off the operation yesterday.
The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi had announced a price regime of N3000 for the Economy Class, while the Business and First Class would cost N5000 and N6000 respectively. Nigerians had appealed for a reversal of the fare, which many saw as unaffordable for the masses.
Our correspondent gathered the inaugural train which originated from Ibadan, Oyo State left at about 8.20 am and arrived Lagos at about 10.40 am, with less than five passengers on board. No passenger was picked from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
“We had one passenger from Ibadan to Lagos and this is not unusual. The service is just commencing. I’m sure as time goes on the patronage will improve. Don’t forget again that we are approaching Christmas and New Year when patronage is expected to drastically improve,” the source said.
However, the Railway District Manager, Lagos, Engr. Jerry Oche said, “The Lagos Ibadan standard gauge train affords members of the public the opportunity to leave Ibadan for Lagos at 8. 00 am in the morning and return at 4.00 pm the same day.
Oche also confirmed that the journey time from Lagos to Ibadan is two and a half hours.
This, he said, “makes more sense going by recent reports of traffic gridlock that has characterized Lagos Ibadan road, due to ongoing road construction along that axis.”
The manager urged Nigerians to embrace the new service which he described as a new dawn in railway modernization.
He added that all major rules and regulations guiding the train operations like the use of nose masks and hand washing practice in compliance with COVID-19 protocols remain.
The train left Lagos at 4.10 pm for Ibadan with five passengers.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation said it would run one schedule of commercial service until patronage picks up.