FG increases train fare by 100 percent

The federal government has announced a 100% increment in train fare for the Abuja to Kaduna service.

Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday told reporters that the fair will double due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minister stated this while inspecting construction works on the Ikapke to Warri rail line. Where a complex was named after former Goodluck Jonathan.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, passengers paid N3,000 for first-class express trips, while the normal first-class trip was N2,500, the charge for the economy express trip was N1,500 and economy normal trip was N1,300.

The minister giving reasons for the new changes said, “previously, a coach carried 88 passengers but when we resume the service, a coach will carry just 40 passengers in line with the health advice on COVID-19.

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The federal government suspended train services during the lockdown on COVID-19 as one of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Rotimi Amaechi added that the new “normal would be that passengers must have personal hand sanitizers and wear facemasks at all times during the duration of the train ride throughout.”