Commuters using the Lagos-Ilorin Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS) have commended the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) for introducing the shuttle service.

A cross section of the commuters, who commented on the issue, described it as ‘a welcome development’.

An Ilorin-based trader, Ibukunoluwa Akeju  told our correspondent on Tuesday in Lagos that the train service had helped to reduce the cost of transporting her goods from Lagos to Ilorin.

She said she travelled on the train every Sunday from Ilorin to Lagos to buy goods and return to Ilorin on Tuesday.

“The train service has eased the hardship I face from shylock transport operators who at the sight of my goods double their fares.

“At times most of my goods get damaged when they are being loaded into their vehicles,’’ she said.

A civil servant Mr Joel Adegbite said that since the introduction of the last Tuesday shuttle service, he had discovered that travelling on long journeys by train is a pleasurable experience.

His views were corroborated by Mr Oluwajomiloju Ajisafe and Mr Tunde Aina who are also civil servants working in Lagos.

Nigeria Railway District Manager, Mr Paul Ndibe  told our correspondent that since its introduction, commuters confidence on the  Tuesday Lagos- Ilorin shuttle service is gradually picking up.

“We are hopeful that in the next two to three weeks, the  Tuesday train service will stabilise since it is regular, punctual and cheap,” he said.

Ndibe said the number of passengers using the shuttle service had increased since the commencement of the operation.

Our correspodnent reports that the Tuesdays train service commenced operation with less than fifty passengers.

However, as at last Tuesday morning, passenger turnout had risen to more than 300.