Passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna train service were again stranded in the bush after the train developed a fault minutes after leaving Rigasa station in Kaduna state.
According to a report by The Guardian, the train initially stopped twice before finally breaking down in Dutse, Kaduna state around 7am.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Fidelis Okhiria, who confirmed the incident, revealed the breakdown was as a result of engine failure.
“Engine failure, but a relief engine has taken over,” the MD added.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, last year, promised that locomotives on the Abuja-Kaduna rail route that break twice would be returned to China.
“It is worrisome that these locomotives that are brand new are failing,” the minister said during an inspection in Lagos.
Mr Amaechi explained that the locomotives have a warranty that covers them for over four years.
Passengers, however, have continued to lament the rigors of traveling on the route as breakdowns leave them stranded for hours.
A passenger lamented “I left my house as early as 5:am to join the 6:40 am train but unfortunately I have been trapped here in this forest. This is not the first time I will be experiencing this mess,” he said.
Another passenger stated he had a similar experience on Saturday, revealing that they spent five hours getting to Abuja.
“This is unfortunate. On Saturday, we spent five hours from Abuja to Kaduna.
“We left Abuja at 6 pm but we did not get to Kaduna until 11:pm,” he added.
According to the passengers, an NRC engineer disclosed that it would take two hours to fix the train.
“We are very sorry, the locomotive is faulty. We have contacted the Idu Train Station for another locomotive.
“It would take them two hours to be here,” he said.
