The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says train operations on the Warri-Itakpe corridor has been temporarily suspended.
The decision followed a major technical disruption that occurred on April 9, the corporation said in a statement on Thursday, signed by Henrietta Eregare, its public relations officer.
The NRC said the disruption was caused by multiple technical issues involving a train engine failure.
According to the corporation, the suspension, which would last for 72 hours, would allow its technical team to conduct a full audit, resolve all identified issues, and restore safe and reliable service.
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“Management has consequently suspended train services on the route for 72 hours. The disruption commenced at approximately 1:38 PM and affected both the 8:00 AM departure from Warri and the 2:00 PM train from Itakpe,” the statement reads.
“Emergency recovery protocols were immediately activated but also suffered a setback due to engine failure.
“Following the incident, NRC swiftly arranged for the safe evacuation of all passengers via road transport with adequate security presence.
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“Passengers were guided off the affected train to waiting cars approximately 500 meters from the track. Some Passengers chose to arrange their own transportation before the arrival of official recovery vehicles—a decision NRC understands given the delay.
“In view of the situation, the NRC has suspended operations on the Warri-Itakpe route for 72 hours.”
The NRC assured passengers with tickets for the disrupted services that they are eligible for a full refund or revalidation for future travel.
“Detailed information on refund and revalidation process is available on our online ticketing platforms, via our customer service lines, and at all NRC stations,” the statement added.
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“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by this unexpected disruption. The Nigerian Railway Corporation takes full responsibility and is actively working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.”
The cooperation also reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring the safety, reliability, and comfort of its passengers, while expressing gratitude for the public’s patience, understanding, and ongoing support.
