The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is to increase frequency of return trips on the flagship Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge network to meet the increasing passenger demands.
Managing Director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this at the weekend after taking delivery of two double-end-drivers’-cabin standard gauge locomotive engines from China on behalf of the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
The locomotives discharged at the ENL Terminal of the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC), Apapa, would be deployed on the existing Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge operation.
The MD said the two locomotives were among the 20 locomotive engines expected to arrive the country for the commencement of standard gauge rail operations.
He disclosed that 10 more locomotives were expected to arrive the country by September.
The MD said with the arrival of the two locomotives, the NRC would increase the return trips on the Kaduna-Abuja route, adding: “The new locomotives will be running at a speed of 130km per hour as against the 90km per hour we are currently doing.”
“These two locomotives are specifically designed for passenger train movement. They have in-built power supply. This is unprecedented. It is designed for 150km per hour rail services and it is double-end drivers’ cabin.
“What this means is that on both ends of the locomotive, there is a drivers’ cabin. What we used to have is a locomotive with only one driver’s cabin on one side,” Okhiria said.
Wow really interesting
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