PH-Enugu Rail Transport Records High Patronage

The recently commis
sioned Port Harcourt – Enugu railway transportation system witnessed high patronage as passengers besiege the stations for their journeys either to Port Harcourt in Rivers State or Enugu.
The Tide correspondent gathered that passengers who were very happy with the system preferred to board the rail transport system rather than travelling by road because of its safety and fastness, among others.
Our correspondent also learnt that the high patronage was as a result of the affordable transport fares charged, adding that amount paid for first class coach with air conditioner is N1,050, while that of second class  is only N600, to and from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
He reported that some of the passengers said they heaved a sigh of relief since the re-introduction of the rail transport system in the Eastern region of the country, and commended the present administration of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his transformation agenda on the transport sector.
The passengers opined that they would continue to patronize the rail transport system because of its comfort economic efficiency as well as urbanization of giving the people at the grassroot a sense of belonging.
They noted that since the re-introduction of the rail transport system in the Eastern part of the country, they no longer experienced road traffic congestions and long time wasted because of traffic gridlocks, and said they were satisfied with the system.
A female clerk with the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Port Harcourt Station terminal who pleaded anonymity said although the management gave them break because of the elections, but when they were operational, they had over 70 passengers on board each trip travelling from Port Harcourt to Enugu and other northern states.
According to her, passengers were very happy over the services as they have vowed to always patronize the railway transport system.
It would be recalled that the Port Harcourt – Enugu Eastern Line of 243km rail line rehabilitation was commissioned by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo on December 23, 2014.

Collins Barasimeye