Federal Govt Orders 200 New Trains To Arrive By December

The Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, has
announced that the Nigeria Railway Corporation,
NRC, would receive additional 200 wagons by
December to boost transportation in the country.
Mr. Umar while flagging-off and inaugurating
four new locomotives and two telescopic cranes
at the Apapa Port, Lagos, said that the NRC was
set to reclaim its lost glory as a catalyst for
development in Nigeria.
He said that the corporation would collaborate
with the customs and other security agents in
order to ensure efficient business activities at the
port.
The completion of the rehabilitation of the
Western line had made it possible for the
corporation to introduce freight and passenger
trains' service.
"About one month ago, weekly Lagos-Kano
intercity passenger train service was introduced
to increase the number of services already
provided. Today the corporation is flagging-off a
container train service from Lagos to Kaduna and
Kano. It is also inaugurating two newly acquired
telescopic cranes and four 1800HP locomotive
engines," Mr. Baraje said.
The Managing Director of the corporation,
Adeseyi Sijuwade, recalled that container train
services in Nigeria were suspended years ago
due to poor infrastructure.
"The acquisition of the facilities was part of
Federal Government's efforts to sustain the drive
to transform the nation's socio-economic
development.
He said that the four locomotives were known as
class 23 locomotives in the fleet of locomotives.
"The four new locomotives to be inaugurated are
self loaded with on-board computer, double
drivers' panel, and fully air-conditioned cabins.
The engine in each of the locomotives is
Caterpillar's 1800 model 3512B engine with
capability of a design speed of 100kmph," Mr.
Sijuwade said.
He said that the NRC was now better equipped
to deal with emergencies, with the two new 100
tons railway cranes.