Train usage among Nigerians in Lagos state is on the rise, a report from the Nigerian Railway Corporation has indicated.
About 174,360 people travelled by train in Lagos last month, the latest statistics from NRC’s report said. This is an increase of 13,832 passengers over the performance in the previous month, which was put at 160,528.
The passengers were recorded on three train services being operated in the Lagos district of the NRC. They are the Mass Transit Train, the Diesel Multiple Unit, and the long distance passenger train called, Express Train.
According to the report, the MTT, from Iddo/Apapa to Ijoko in Ogun State, recorded the highest number of passengers at 155,274. In January, the MTT moved 138,445 people.
The DMU moved 17,250 passengers in February. This was, however, lower than the 19,055 passengers that used the train in January.
For the express passenger train, the report showed that while 1,836 people used the train in January, 3,028 passengers were recorded for January.
The express trains, according to the Public Relations for the NRC Lagos District, Mrs. Khadijat Aroyewun-Adekomaiya, comprise the weekly Lagos-Kano and the Lagos-Ilorin trains.
There is also an indication that the operation of the freight train has picked up with the Lagos District carrying 500 tonnes of containers last month.
This is coming just as the NRC has taken delivery of five standard gauge coaches meant to be used for the Abuja-Kaduna fast train expected to begin operation in May this year.
