NRC Apologises After Kaduna-Abuja Train Broke Down Midway, Confirms Passengers’ Safety

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has apologised to all passengers on the afternoon belt of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) over the delay they experienced following a procedural safety decision as the backup engine loses power moments after the train departed.

Managing director of the Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, who said the passengers were never stranded, noted that the Corporation’s premium on safety at all times informed the reason why the train returned to Kaduna, the moment it was discovered that the back-up engines was losing power.

He further stated that, “Though the train can push through but for security concerns on the route and since they are less than 30 minutes into the journey, it is advisable to pull back to Rigasa, Kaduna for safety reasons.”

He, however, revealed that “the journey resumed at 4pm (60 minutes after) and arrived Idu at 18.52 hour. Eighty minutes behind schedule. Passengers were kept informed through Public Address Systems (PAS) on the train and at the Rigasa Station.”

LEADERSHIP had earlier reported that passengers on the Kaduna-Abuja train service were left stranded after the train developed problems minutes into the trip from Kaduna.

The train, which left Kaduna on Thursday at past 2pm, encountered problems at about an 30 minutes into the trip and had to reverse back to Kaduna.