- NRC resumes service after temporarily suspending operation
By Demi Adeniyi
Vandals who removed the track fastening clips, caused the derailment that was experienced on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) on Wednesday, Sunrise News has learnt.
The NRC Deputy Director Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood, told our Correspondent yesterday, that the technical hitch led to the suspension of train service in the morning hours of yesterday on the route to enable the Corporation’s engineers carry out remedial works on the affected areas.
Mahmood said the incident happened around the Asham Railway Station, in Kaduna State.
According to him, all passengers on board the train were however successfully evacuated and safely returned to Idu Train Station in Abuja.
He also assured that tickets already obtained by passengers remain valid for at least two weeks, and could still be used for subsequent journeys.
“The NRC Management remains resolute towards ensuring the safety of our valued passengers in the entire system,” Mahmood said.
“For operational reasons, the first train from Kaduna (Rigasa) scheduled for 08.00hours will be cancelled on Thursday 6th June, 2024 only, while all other train services will run as scheduled,” Mahmood, who regretted the inconveniences that this technical hitch might have caused esteemed passengers said.
The AKTS is the flagship of the Corporation’s three standard gauge networks that includes the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, the Itakpe-Warri Train Service (IWTS), and the double lane Lagos-Ibadan Train Service (LITS), all delivered by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The AKTS has carried over a million passengers since it began commercial operation in July 2016.