Business
Railways To Resume PH Operations, Soon
The Director of Operations, Nigeria Railway Coorperation (NRC), Ebute Metta, Lagos, Mr Samuel Elechi has said that train passengers are to enjoy the services of the Nigerian Railway corporation, soon.
Mr Elechi, who spoke with journalists in Port Harcourt recently noted that the corporation has made available all necessary logistics to ensure that the intra-city train service was brought back to life.
The Railway boss, hinted federal government has earmarked a huge sum of money for the planned rehabilitation of the railway system.
He revealed that work is currently going on at the Lagos-Kano railway as part of its determination to revive the services.
He further noted that the work was divided into two parts, adding that each company in charge of each division was expected to finish before the year runs off.
According to him, that of Port Harcourt is still pending, noting that the Federal Government has made available some funds for the running of an intra-city mass transit train service within Port Harcourt and its immediate environs.
Elechi blamed the delay of the Port Harcourt Railway partly on the rehabilitation work at Nwaja Bridge by the Rivers State Government.
Moreso, he revealed that the Federal Government has also imported about 25 brand new locomotives from General Electric in the United States of America, and said that the machines would soon be deployed to the rails, to commence services along Port Harcourt and Imo River.
He added that the locomotives have the capacity to carry about 1,000 to 2,000 metric tonnes of goods at a time.
The NRC director, maintained that there is no likelihood of suffering any hitches adding that the trains are to operate faster than before.
However, he lauded the federal government over its decision to rehabilitate the Railways, as he urged passengers to make good use of the opportunity available to them.