Ahead of the January launch as announced by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Lagos-Ibadan railway commenced its trial operation on Monday.
The trial was conducted with passengers onboard.
Also, the train covered a 156km journey between Ibadan and Lagos for about 2 hours and 40 mins.
Here we go! 🇳🇬🚞 #Lagos #Ibadan railway in #Nigeria made trial operations with passengers!
The first double-track standard gauge modern railway in West #Africa is constructed by Chinese company @CCECC8. pic.twitter.com/D529v0T8rt— Shen Shiwei 沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) December 9, 2020
The train was built with $1.5 billion, financed by the Chinese government with Abuja assisting with counterpart funding.
The train will also be able to reach places like Nigeria’s economic hub and populated areas in Ibadan.
According to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, the fare would cost the passengers a fortune as the prices range between 3,000 and 6,000.
He said, “Today, I approved the charges for passengers from Lagos to Ibadan. We just transferred how we charged from Abuja to Kaduna.
“We charge N3,000 per economy seat; N5,000 for business class and N6,000 for first class.”
ALSO READ: Lagos-Ibadan Rail Fare: Counterproductive Or Not?
He said during a speech at the inauguration of the governing council of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria in Abuja.
How does it affect commuters going through the route?
The project handler, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCEC), said that the time travel would be cut into two hours.
However, the departure time for Ibadan to Lagos is at 8 am daily and scheduled to return at 4 pm.
As such, this will be a new lease of movement for commuters who spend hours daily stuck in the Lagos-Ibadan traffic.
It is best believed that the rail transportation would be a great solution provider to the problems.
However, FG plans to extend the railway gauge to 2,733km, making it a Lagos-Kano gauge line standard.
What do Nigerians have to say about the trial?
Well, there have been mixed reactions after the operational trial on Monday.
Below are some reactions from Nigerians on Twitter:
Everything Buhari borrowed money to build, I am seeing them one by one. I have seen the Military Jets, and Equipment's. I have seen the trains, Lagos-Ibadan, Kaduna-Abuja train, I have also seen other Railways lines, trains coaches coming into the country. Please @OfficialPDPNig
— King of Salem (@ihe69) December 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/tajudine2013/status/1336410462003589127
https://twitter.com/tajudine2013/status/1336705270462943236
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