Due to technical faults emanating from train engines on Thursday, the management of the Nigeria Rail Corporation has suspended its train services for Warri-Itakpe for 72 hours.
This disclosure was made in a statement released by Henrietta Eregare, the acting spokesperson of the corporation on Thursday, copies of which were made available to journalists.
“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.
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.”
