The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has begun a trial of the electronic ticketing process for its train services.
Managing Director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, confirmed to Daily Trust that the corporation started with 10 passengers last week on a trial run.
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He said the online platform which enables passengers to book their ticket online would be unveiled as soon as the trial run is concluded to ensure that the system is protected against hacking.
In the meantime, passenger traffic on the new Lagos-Ibadan train route is improving. From one passenger when it started Monday December 7, 2020, the daily figure has risen to 187, officials said.
Many passengers had decried the high fare but the Federal Government said the prices are fair enough. Engr. Okhiria who gave an insight into the operations at the weekend on the sidelines of inspection of the ongoing project said the passengers’ turn out is gradually improving.
The service costs between N2500 and N6000 for the highest fare on the First Class coach.
“For us to sustain the service, we have to charge reasonable prices. We are going to pay allowances to people. Even though the government pays staff salaries, those who work extra hours out of stations have to be paid allowances,” said the NRC boss.
Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, also dismissed any downward review. “If you don’t like rail, you use land, if you don’t like land, you use air. You use anyone you like. The road and the rail are meant for the poor,” he said.
