The Federal Government is readying 12 more coaches and locomotives for the Abuja-Kaduna rail line to improve efficiency and reduce corruption at rail stations.
But this will likely come at a price, as passengers on the route will have to pay more for train tickets.
The introduction of more coaches and locomotives, as well as the slight increases in prices of rail services is expected to reduce ticket racketeering characterising rail stations, which prevents many passengers from getting tickets, BusinessDay earlier reported.
BusinessDay’s recent visit to Kubwa, Idu and Rigasa rail lines, showed that many passengers hardly find train tickets on Sundays due to shortage of coaches and fraudulent activities of ticket racketeers.
This could end soon as there will now be more coaches and locomotives at rail stations.
Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation spoke of a ticket price review on Tuesday, ahead of the planned commissioning of ten new coaches and two locomotives for the Kaduna – Abuja train service.
The Kaduna-Abuja train service plays a key role in transporting the tens of thousands of Nigerians who work or do business in Abuja and live in the numerous satellite settlements which offer cheaper accommodations between both cities.
Amaechi, speaking with State House Correspondents shortly after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, justified the proposed increase.
The Minister, however, did not reveal how much government intended to charge under the new price structure but assured that one of the coaches would be dedicated to ‘direct trip’ non- stop from Kaduna to Abuja to reduce the travel time to one hour, twenty minutes.
Amaechi said the President is pleased with the arrangements and that it was geared basically to enable the corporation discharge its responsibilities to passengers and avoid ‘ticket racketeering’.
“When demand outstrips supply, then you see all sorts of attempts to cheat the passengers. There are two things I know the president likes. I have mentioned one. The second one is after the commissioning, even the passengers agree that the cost of transportation to Kaduna, via the railway is a bit too cheap,” he said.
BusinessDay had earlier reported the level of ticket racketeering going on at rail stations, especially Kubwa.
“So there will be a need to increase the price and then there will be more comfort. More comfort in the sense that when you have excess seats, multiplied by the number of passengers that will come, then anybody that wants to racketeer will have to eat the tickets himself.”
The Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge railway was built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and it covers a distance of 186.5 km. The railway, which has nine stations and a designated speed of 150 km per hour, links the capital city Abuja and the northwestern state of Kaduna.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja & ODINAKA ANUDU
