Abuja-Kaduna Train Resumes October 1 After Derailment, Corporation Releases New Timetable

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has officially announced the resumption of passenger services on the busy Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor, with operations scheduled to recommence on Wednesday, October 1.

The train service had been temporarily suspended since the derailment incident that occurred on August 26 near Asham Station, which caused injuries to over 20 passengers. The month-long suspension was utilized for extensive repair work, the recovery of affected rolling stock, and a comprehensive safety assessment of the entire track.

In a statement confirming the resumption, the NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer assured the public that the corporation has “worked tirelessly to ensure both the infrastructure and rolling stock are restored to the highest safety standards.” This move comes after a preliminary report from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) pointed to poor maintenance and operational gaps as contributing factors to the accident, prompting the NRC to implement staff refresher training.

Alongside the resumption date, the NRC also released a new operational timetable. Details show the train from Abuja will depart Idu at 8:45 a.m., while the Kaduna-to-Abuja service will leave Rigasa at 2:30 p.m. The Corporation also designated Wednesdays for regular maintenance work. The NRC further confirmed that it has processed fare refunds for the majority of the passengers who were on board the derailed train, appealing for continued patience from commuters as service returns to full capacity.