THE Federal Government is set to purchase more locomotives and coaches to accommodate the large turnout of passengers currently patronising Abuja -Kaduna rail route.
Disclosing this in Abuja at the weekend, Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, said the number of passengers boarding the Abuja-Kaduna rail is more than the capacity of the coaches.
According to him, “currently from what we saw today, the number of passengers boarding the rail outlives the number of coaches available. We have about four coaches that has the capacity to carry about 380 persons, but right now, more than 380 persons have been boarding those coaches” Amaechi revealed.
The minister said there was need to buy more locomotives and couches when the programme is properly flagged off.
It will be recalled that the minister flagged off the test running of Abuja -Kaduna rail project weeks ago, and it has been free ride for many moving from Kaduna to Abuja.
“We have hit the ground running, people are boarding to go to Kaduna free in the test running of the project, we will start collecting money the day the president commission the project,” said the Minister.
Amechi reaffirmed the President’s commitment in funding all rail projects, adding further that, the date for official commissioning of Abuja -Kaduna rail will soon be announced.
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