Passengers Lament Train Congestion

Passengers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Mass Transit Train Services (MTTS) last Saturday, appealed to the corporation to address the perennial congestion of the trains on the Lagos-Ogun route.

The passengers said that it was improper for the NRC to attach two unoccupied first class coaches to one of its trains while the regular coaches were over congested.

Our correspondent, who was aboard one of the trains from Ijoko in Ogun to Ido, Lagos, reports that the two regular coaches were over congested.

A trip from Ijoko to Ido on the regular coaches costs N150.

Our correspondent reports that in spite of the over congestion, NRC workers prevented commuters from sitting in the two first class coaches.

Mrs. Alaba Orilowo, who was unable to join the overcrowded train at Agbado, Ogun told newsmen that the management was insensitive.

“When I saw the two empty coaches, I was eager to go in, but the NRC’s officials stopped me, saying they were not meant for N150.

“I asked if the N500 ticket for the first class was available for sale, the officials said no.

“And I asked them why they attached the coaches, they told me it was a directive from above,’’ Orilowo said.

Another passenger, Mr. Kazeem Badiru, said that the management inconvenienced passengers with the prevention.

“ I don’t know the business sense in attaching the two empty coaches.

“The management did not realise that two regular coaches will fetch more money than two unoccupied first class coaches,’’ he said.

An elderly passenger, Mr. Anthony Obi, who claimed to have stood from Ijoko to Ido, said that the management would not be able to eradicate hanging on trains until it provided enough coaches.

“If the management had attached two regular coaches instead of the two unoccupied first class coaches, it would have transported, at least 180 passengers,’’ Obi said.

A NRC official, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the management directed that passengers should not be allowed inside the two first class coaches.