NRC suspends Warri-Itakpe train service over faulty engine
The management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation said it has suspended train services to Warri-Itakpe for 72 hours effective Thursday over a technical fault emanating from the train’s engine.
This was made known through a statement signed by the acting spokesperson for the corporation, Henrietta Eregare, and made available to our correspondent on Thursday.
It will be recalled that the train servicing the Warri and Itakpe route developed a fault on Tuesday, leading to its inability to move.
“The disruption commenced at approximately 1:38 pm and affected both the 8 am departure from Warri and the 2 pm train from Itakpe. Emergency recovery protocols were immediately activated but also suffered a setback due to engine failures.
“Following the incident, NRC swiftly arranged for the safe evacuation of all passengers via road transport with adequate security presence. Passengers were guided off the affected train to waiting cars approximately 500 meters from the track. Some Passengers chose to arrange their transportation before the arrival of official recovery vehicles, a decision NRC understands given the delay.
“In view of the situation, the NRC has suspended operations on the Warri-Itakpe route for 72 hours. This pause will allow our technical team to conduct a full audit, resolve all identified issues, and restore safe and reliable service,” the statement stated.
Following the development, the management assured passengers of full fare refund or revalidation for future travel purposes, subject to the passenger’s decision.
The statement reads further, “All passengers with tickets for the affected services are eligible for a full refund or revalidation for future travel, based on their preference. “Detailed information on the refund and revalidation process is available on our online ticketing platforms, via our customer service lines, and at all NRC stations.”
The corporation, however, regretted any inconveniences the development might have caused passengers, saying, “The Nigerian Railway Corporation takes full responsibility and is actively working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. We remain committed to the safety, reliability, and comfort of our passengers.”
