₦airaland Forum

The Abuja – Kaduna railway services has raked in over N1.1 billion in its first two years of operation, LEADERSHIP Weekend investigation has showed. Data obtained by our reporter showed that the station, which currently operates with 15 coaches, dedicates three to four coaches to baggage, while the remaining 11 coaches are dedicated to passengers.

It was also discovered that in the last two years, the station has transported about 900, 000 passengers along the Abuja – Kaduna route at an average price of N1, 300.

However, the manager of the Abuja – Kaduna train service of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Pascal Nnoli, explained that there are first class services ranging between N2, 500 to N3, 000.

“Before 2016, we didn’t have any available operational standard gauge rail in West Africa. This was the first one and here we are today, carrying an average of 2000 passengers’ everyday through and fro Kaduna. For two years, we have transported about 900, 000 passengers as at July 24,” Nnoli explained.

When asked if the station has recorded any profit within this time frame, Nnoli said “anybody who says you would break even running a railway business and especially running passenger services, is not being frank with you. You can break even just as an operator. If you are given the whole infrastructure just so you can run the services, you may break even but when you are involved in infrastructure, you won’t.’

To construct a kilometre of track internationally takes a minimum of $2.5million. He however, said “I know that what we are doing now would go a long way to augment our operating cost.”

While speaking on the things to look out for as the station marks two years in operation, Nnoli said: “prior to January 4, 2018, before we added more stock to our rake, we had only five coaches out of which one was a baggage van. This meant that we had only four and the carrying capacity of the four was about 320 passengers per trip. So there were reported cases of ticket racketeering. But with the addition of 10 more coaches on January 4, 2018, which increased our carrying capacity, the reports of ticket racketeering has now become a thing of the past.’

“As a corporation, we are going further to make sure that we give people the best of rail service by introducing e-ticketing. The procurement process has started and we are in the next phase right now. Hopefully, in the next three months, it will be deployed and linked to access control which means that by the time you want to board, you won’t be having human interface with our personnel. All you’ll need to do is flash your ticket at the gate and it opens to you. But if it is not valid, it will not open to you.

On the frequency, he said there are two racks, one from Rigasa, which starts from 6:40 and a second one from Idu station, which leaves by 7am. Both operate four times daily.

Nnoli also explained that in the last two years, the station has employed 779 Nigerians for the station and close to 600 staff are on the Abuja – Kaduna corridor alone from the six man technical committee that started the project.

“Today marks the second anniversary of our commencement of commercial train operations on this corridor. If you recall very well, exactly two years ago, on July 26, 2016, the president, Muhammadu Buhari, was on this ground to commission this train service and it is a thing of joy that we have operated successfully for two years.’’

Source: https://leadership.ng/2018/07/28/abuja-kaduna-railway-rakes-in-n1-1bn-in-2-years/

Thanks to GEJ for the solid foundation laid and to PMB for completing the project.

Blue3k2:
The Abuja – Kaduna railway services has raked in over N1.1 billion in its first two years of operation, LEADERSHIP Weekend investigation has showed. Data obtained by our reporter showed that the station, which currently operates with 15 coaches, dedicates three to four coaches to baggage, while the remaining 11 coaches are dedicated to passengers.

It was also discovered that in the last two years, the station has transported about 900, 000 passengers along the Abuja – Kaduna route at an average price of N1, 300.

However, the manager of the Abuja – Kaduna train service of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Pascal Nnoli, explained that there are first class services ranging between N2, 500 to N3, 000.

“Before 2016, we didn’t have any available operational standard gauge rail in West Africa. This was the first one and here we are today, carrying an average of 2000 passengers’ everyday through and fro Kaduna. For two years, we have transported about 900, 000 passengers as at July 24,” Nnoli explained.

On the frequency, he said there are two racks, one from Rigasa, which starts from 6:40 and a second one from Idu station, which leaves by 7am. Both operate four times daily.

Source: https://leadership.ng/2018/07/28/abuja-kaduna-railway-rakes-in-n1-1bn-in-2-years/

Honestly, this railway project is one that deserves commendation. I hear that travel time from Abuja to Kaduna by train is just a little over 1 hour.

But the Nigerian Police Force and the armed forces really need to do something serious, about the current state of security in Rigasa, Kaduna state. It is a flashpoint for violence and many residents do not feel safe there, due to constant reports of armed robbery, mugging, rape, killings and other evil acts. If the insecurity continues, then many people would be dissuaded from further patronising the rail service.

Rigasa is one of the most backward localities in Kaduna state, due to the lack of infrastructure & amenities in that town. There is a governor in charge of Kaduna State called El-Rufai. Yet instead of improving the living conditions & infrastructure in Rigasa, he prefers to play to the gallery, by trading insults with political opponents.

This doesnt sound like a lot of money but ok.

But wait ooo, d Abj railway don dey work for 2yrs now?