‘Update mobile app for booking’ — NRC says Abuja-Kaduna train to resume Monday

The federal government says the Abuja-Kaduna train services would commence on Monday, December 5, 2022.

Speaking to NAN on Thursday, Fidet Okhiria, managing director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), said all was set for resumption of operations.

Okhiria, however, advised passengers to begin updating their mobile apps as from December 3, 2022, to enable them to successfully book for rides.

He noted that services will commence with two train rides from Abuja to Kaduna and vice versa.

“AK 1 will depart Idu station at 9:45hrs and arrive Rigasa station at 11:53hrs,” Okhiria said.

“KA 2 will depart Rigasa at 8:00hrs and arrive Idu station at 10:17hrs.

“AK 3 will depart Idu Station at 15:30hrs and arrive Rigasa Station at 17:38hrs.

” And KA 4 will depart Rigasa at 14:00hrs and arrive Idu Station at 16:07hrs.

The NRC boss assured passengers of the federal government’s commitment to ensure safety of lives and properties on board its train at all times.

Meanwhile, the continued delay in resumption had sparked speculation that services would recommence on Monday.

But on Tuesday, Mua’zu Sambo, minister of transportation, had said train services on the corridor would resume within seven days, and not Monday.

Sambo said this was to enable passengers to get used to the new requirements (phone number and national identification number) for boarding the train.

“Now, we have introduced a new system before you buy a ticket,” he had said.

“Your purchase of a ticket requires you to provide a phone number and a national identification number in order to profile, because that is the beginning of the security checks.

“So, at any point in time when a train moves from one station to another, we know who and who is on board.

“If you don’t have a national identification number (NIN) you are not going to board our train. It is as simple as that.”