About 1,000 commuters on Friday had a ride in the Lagos-Ilorin Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS).
The train was filled to capacity, as some of the passengers, who could not get seats, stood all the way.
The Lagos District Superintendent of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Samuel Elumole, said that two additional coaches were added to the seven coaches, to accommodate the intending travellers.
Elumole said that the NRC did not expect a huge turnout of passengers on Saturday because there was a free train ride paid for by the Osun government, on Thursday.
“When we saw the crowd, we had to make arrangement to add two coaches to the seven scheduled for the journey’’, he said.
The commuters, who spoke, said that they had to travel by train because it was cheaper and safer.
A civil servant and an Osogbo indigene, Mr Oluwasegun Ariyo, also phrased that he was not aware of the free ride offered by his state government.
Ariyo commended the effort of the Lagos District of the NRC for adding two coaches, saying that many commuters would have returned home disappointed and might not be able to make the journey again because of the hike in bus fare.
Mrs Oluwadunmininu Ashaye, a mother of four children travelling to Ibadan, said that she was always of afraid travelling by road during festive periods, as many accidents are recorded then.
“I cannot take the risk of travelling by road with all my children at this period because it is unsafe and will even cost me more.
“I am paying less than N1,000 for this trip while if it were by bus, a trip from Lagos to Ibadan would cost N800 per passenger and lapping may not be allowed’’, Ashaye said.
A trip by train from Lagos to Abeokuta costs N180, as against N800 by bus, while Ibadan by train is N340, as against N800 by bus and N1,500 in car.
Also a journey from Lagos to Oshogbo by train costs N510 ,while Offa costs N600 and Ilorin costs N680.
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This is a good development. We pray it gets better!
ReplyDeleteIt's ok, that is a good development, let's go back to the good old days where everything is available to all Nigerians. Well done NRC and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteI really thank the Government but stil they should try and modernize the train. All this train am seein in Nigeria are too old, we need some tain that we cover 5000 klm in an hour. Compare to what i see in Europe, its very shameful, Nigeria Government should try and improve the railway system in nigeria.
ReplyDelete†ђΐƨ̣̣̣̇̇̇̇ is wonderfull in nigeria again,Government shld keep doing moore better S̶̲̥̅Ơ̴̴̴̴̴̴͡ that we can be saying good about them
ReplyDeletethis train is fine. Faster trains burn more diesel, which translates to more expensive tickets.
ReplyDeleteI think congratulations are in order for moving from no service to a service.