The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it is working to improve train turnaround time, enhance cargo movement, and tackle vandalism.

NRC’s district manager (West), Angelique Ikwuka, stated this in Ibadan on Friday. The zone covers five states: Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, and parts of Niger, with narrow and standard-gauge lines still operational despite challenges.

Ms Ikwuka said that, although the focus has shifted to standard gauge services, the narrow gauge still transports cement weekly to Ilorin, except during heavy rainfall, which occasionally washes off parts of the track.

“The standard gauge Light Rail Transit (LITL), handling most passenger traffic, has recorded impressive patronage, sometimes exceeding full capacity with standing passengers observed during peak service periods,” she said.

She said the NRC introduced an e-ticketing system in November 2023, managed by GSD Solutions, which has drastically reduced long queues at train stations across the zone.

Ms Ikwuka explained that the goal was to achieve near-total digital ticket booking, as seen on the Abuja-Kaduna route, where only a few passengers now purchase tickets at the station.

“Train services run twice daily from Sundays to Thursdays and thrice on Fridays and Saturdays due to noticeable increases in weekend passenger volumes and during festive periods,” she said.

On freight operations, Ms Ikwuka noted that Dugbe station, on the narrow gauge, still handles container and cement movement.

She said containers arrive in Ibadan every two days, with goods returning to the port.

“The NRC is creating awareness among industries to embrace rail to ease pressure on roads.

“Some companies have started responding positively, but others are still sceptical. We’re engaging them, hoping they realise the benefits of shifting to the rail option,” the district manager said.

According to her, logistical constraints beyond NRC control, such as port transfers and offloading, affect overall costs, though the corporation is working with logistics firms to harmonise charges.

Ms Ikwuka said a major improvement target is reducing Lagos-Ibadan travel time to 90 minutes to make rail more competitive with road transport now that highways are improving.

The district manager said that while Ibadan has no level crossings, Lagos operations are slowed due to frequent road-track intersections and public disregard for rail safety at crossing points.

“To boost accessibility, NRC has now activated stops at all stations, including Olodo in Ibadan.

“We are urging commuters in surrounding towns to utilise them to avoid unnecessary delays and long road detours.

“We keep enlightening passengers about shorter options, but habits take time to change. With time, they’ll see the benefits of using nearby stations,” she added.

Ms Ikwuka, however, decried persistent vandalism of railway assets along tracks despite tight station security, urging Nigerians to see rail infrastructure as public property to be protected.

“We can’t place personnel all along the tracks. It’s unsustainable. We urge communities to report suspicious movements. Some are already partnering with us for surveillance,” she stated.

Ms Ikwuka also decried public resistance to safety procedures, recalling a recent case where a passenger refused ticket checks until police intervention, despite announcements on mandatory in-train checks.

On future plans, she said the standard gauge would be extended to Ilorin.

According to her, current trains are fitted with modern amenities, onboard nurses, and test-phase Wi-Fi to enhance passenger comfort.

(NAN)