The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has expressed optimism that the Abuja-Kaduna train hourly service will commence before the end of this month after several weeks of suspension of operations.
The Manager, Abuja-Kaduna Train Service of the NRC, Mr. Pascal Nnorli, confirmed to Daily Trust that the hourly service would reduce to the barest minimum the chaotic situation at the train stations as the corporation now targets about 9,000 passengers per day up from the current about 5,000 passengers.
He said: “Right now, we have 17 coaches working. We are adding additional ten and the seven that will be in the DMU. The reserve rake will have five coaches. So we are deploying new 12 coaches in addition to the 17 which is now 29 coaches.”
According to him, with the 10 new coaches and one DMU, the NRC intends to increase its frequency from 8 to 14, adding also that the maintenance schedule will change.
“If we maintain full capacity, this should improve our passenger base to about 80 percent. We should hit 9,000 passengers per day on the average”, Nnorli projected.
Speaking on the protocols to observe as the NRC plans to reopen, the Managing Director, Engr. Fidet Okhria, said the carrying capacity may drop with perhaps no more standing opportunity.
“Before the lockdown, we had already provided hand sanitizers, infrared thermometers, and hand washing facilities at the stations. We will also introduce measures for physical distancing by passengers” he said.
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