The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) would start Lagos-Ilorin passenger train service from tomorrow, a statement from the corporation said.

This signals the completion of track rehabilitation work between Lagos and Jebba by the Chinese contracting firm, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
The statement said the final track inspection was carried out October 21 – 22 for the purpose of ascertaining the level of preparedness and fitness of the tract section for safe running of train.

The inspection was under the leadership of Government Inspector of Railways and engineers from NRC, CCECC, Roughton consultancy and representatives from the Federal Ministry of Transport.

The Lagos – Ilorin Express train service will for the moment serve as the flag-ship of NRC passenger train service pending the completion of the Jebba – Kano line due for completion in December.

The statement said that management of NRC has assembled dedicated coaches and locomotive engines for the train service which will depart Lagos every Friday at 9:00am from Iddo terminus with a return journey to Lagos on Sundays.

The coaches are made up to 1st class sleeper, second class air-conditioned coaches and the economy class. There is also a restaurant coach and modern toilet facilities for passengers’ convenience, the statement said.

According to the statement, special operations staff have been deployed for the train service which also include medical officers and the Railway Police, adding that the train service is also fitted with baggage vans for bulk goods and farm produce.

The Lagos-Ilorin Express train service will be unique, as it provides the travelling public with a better alternative to the traffic congestion on the Lagos-Ibadan express road.




http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/10/27/lagos-ilorin-passenger-train-service-starts-tomorrow/

This will go a long way in reducing the prices of food products in the south, hopefully!

Nice one.

Wait till NairaLand loud mouths bad mouth it.

Bravo! The rise of the "trains-formers". GEJ will be remembered for this.

This is a good one which is expected to take some pressure off the expired Lagos-Ibadan expressway. I'll also like to see an increase in the frequency and the number of routes in the coming days.

By the way, how long is the journey from Lagos to Ilorin, how much is it and how many passengers can the coaches carry per trip?

A generation of Nigerians are that never rode a train
Maybe we should ask who has ridden a train before.

I'd like to know how long the journey'll take and the price too

Very nice development.
Does anyone know if the signals are electronic or still the old wire and pulley type? The effectiveness of the signalling system can greatly affect journey times.

The signal are still the same old ones, how long will it take one to get to Ilorin from Lagos. I believe they should start with freight.

Beaf:

Very nice development.
Does anyone know if the signals are electronic or still the old wire and pulley type? The effectiveness of the signalling system can greatly affect journey times.

modern train signals are computer controlled the days of wire,analogue are gone

Pukkah:

By the way, how long is the journey from Lagos to Ilorin, how much is it and how many passengers can the coaches carry per trip?

Too long, if that previous trip from Lag to Ibadan is anything to judge by.

hercules07:

believe they should start with freight.

Cosign. Freight is where the rail will be a huge winner. I imagine it will be faster to transport humans via car rather than this train. Proly won't be doing more than 30 miles per hour on this train. . .

Na analogue signal

Small win!
Still commendable.

I pray it works. It will gradually keep some trailers off the roads.)

This is amazing we need more like this. But we need to get Nigerian firms to build so we can give Nigerians jobs.