Abuja-Kaduna Train Service to Resume Next Week
- Nigeria News
- 28.09.2025
- No Comment
- 23
Abuja-Kaduna Train Service to Resume Next Week
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has officially announced that the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train service will resume operations next week, ending a one-month suspension caused by track damage at Asham.
The service had been halted since August 26, 2025, after an incident that forced the NRC to temporarily suspend operations on the busy corridor. According to the corporation, repair works and safety checks on the affected section have now been successfully completed.
In a statement signed by Callistus Unyimadu, Chief Public Relations Officer of the NRC, on behalf of management on Saturday, the corporation emphasized that it had worked tirelessly to restore both the infrastructure and the rolling stock to the highest safety standards in line with global best practices.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation is pleased to announce that the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train service is set to resume operations next week, following the successful completion of repair and safety checks on the affected section of track at Asham,” the statement read.
Unyimadu added that as part of its commitment to passenger welfare, the NRC has already refunded 512 passengers out of the 583 on board the affected train, with efforts ongoing to reach and process refunds for the remaining passengers to ensure no one is left behind.
The NRC expressed appreciation for the patience and understanding of passengers during the suspension, assuring that safety, comfort, and satisfaction remain its top priorities. It also acknowledged the support of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, security agencies, the media, and other stakeholders in the recovery process.
Further details on the official resumption date and train schedules will be communicated to the public in the coming days.
The derailment occurred along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train left Abuja at about 11 am en route to Kaduna. A passenger on board described the scene as chaotic, with people scrambling to safety.
Following the incident, the NRC suspended train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route until further notice. On September 24, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) revealed in its preliminary findings that poor maintenance and a faulty track switch were key factors behind the derailment.
According to the report, several sleepers at the station that had been damaged in a previous incident were only patched instead of being properly repaired. The switch had to be manually operated and secured using a point clip, which was later discovered to be broken — compromising the integrity of the track alignment and leading to the derailment.
The NSIB report also noted that NRC personnel had received only initial training with no formal refresher courses, raising concerns about safety standards and preparedness. Additionally, operational and maintenance tools, including spare parts from the Original Equipment Manufacturer, were largely inaccessible at the time of the incident.
