New timetable for abuja-kaduna train 2020
A new timetable for the Abuja-Kaduna train was scheduled on 9th October, 2020.
Are you currently making plans to use the Nigerian train service? There have been few changes to the schedules as well as ticket prices.
Below are the prices of tickets for Abuja-Kaduna trips:
- First class express trip – N3,000.
- First class normal trip – N2,500.
- Economy express trip – N1,500.
- Economy normal trip – N1,300.
It takes between 2 hrs 30 mins to 2 hrs 45 mins for a train trip moving from Abuja to Kaduna.
Trips are often scheduled between 7 am and 6 pm daily (Monday to Friday).
Nigeria railway
In Nigeria, railways are operated by the NRC (Nigerian Railway Corporation. The Nigeria’s rail system has 3,505 km of 3 ft 6 in. gauge lines. The standard gauge lines is 507 km.
Work is in progress to build the Cape gauge, and also to develop a new standard gauge network. This would allow smooth transportation.
On March 1896, the British government started the construction of the Nigerian railways from Lagos Colony and to Ibadan.
By March 1901, the Lagos Government Railway commenced operations. This was extended to Minna (Niger State) in 1911. It met with the Baro-Kano Railway Station established by the Northern Nigeria government between 1907 to 1911. In 1912, these two lines were merged into the Government Department of Railways – a predecessor of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). By year 1930, the railway was at the Northeastern ternimus of Nguru.
Coal was discovered at Udi. This led to the establishment of the Eastern Railway in Port-Harcourt – built between 1913 to 1916. The railway was later extended to Kaduna through Kafanchan around 1927. It connected the Eastern Railway to the Lagos-Kano Railway. Also, between 1958 to 1964, the Eastern Railway was extended to Maiduguri.
Nigeria railway corporation
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) owned by the government. The state-owned enterprise has exclusive rights to operate railways in within the country..
The history of the NRC can be traced back to 1898. This was when the British colonial government constructed the first railway in Nigeria.
The Lagos Government Railway together with the Baro-Kano Railway were amalgamated on the 3rd of October, 1912. This was when the nationwide rail service began – under the name “Government Department of Railways”.
Through the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act of 1955, the current name was established, and it was granted exclusive legal right to build and operate rail services in the country.
By 1964, the rail network was at its peak. The Nigerian Railway Corporation later experienced long-term decline, poor management, and lack of rail maintenance.
Sometime in 1988, the corporation declared bankruptcy. All rail traffic was stopped for 6 months and later resumed.
Passenger service was completely discontinued again in 2002. In year 2006, plans were made to fully restore its service and also to seek foreign assistance for new locomotives.
Regular and scheduled passenger services were fully restored on December 2012, for the Lagos-Kano line.
The corporation keeps making plans for the future of railway system in Nigeria.
Lagos train schedule
As the latest city in Nigeria, Lagos State keeps working on ways to improve its rail system. The State is currently constructing a light rail system under a public-private partnership (PPP).
The project is sponsored by the State government.
The Lagos train schedule is the Lagos-Kano line, and the Lagos-Ibadan line.
Tickets are affordable.
Ongoing railway project in nigeria
Different railway projectt are currently in progress in Nigeria.
In 2018, the Nigerian Minister of Transportation was reported to sign a contract worth $6.68 billions with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). The goal is to complete the Lagos-Kano standard gauge railway segments that are left to be completed.
Other under-construction projects are the Abuja-Kaduna line and the Lagos-Ibadan line.
Lagos-ibadan train schedule
The Lagos-Ibadan train journey is about 2 hrs and 40 mins.
Train is scheduled to leave the Ibadan Station by 8 am and to arrive at the Lagos Station around 10:40 am.
The return trip is exactly 4 pm from the Lagos Station and to arrive at the Ibadan Station by 6:40 pm.
Nigerian railway map
New lagos-ibadan rail route
The new Lagos-Ibadan rail route is a double-track line rail which its construction began in 2017. A trial service was conducted in 2020 with passengers onboard. It was a success. When construction is completed, more trips will be added.
Author
Daniel is a Digital Marketer and a Copywriter.
He is a member of the Association of Business Executives (UK).
On most days, he enjoys writing, soccer, and spending time with Nature.