It has been excitement galore for commuters plying the Aba – Port Harcourt rail line axis which came back to live recently following the total rehabilitation of the Aba – Port Hacourt corridor.
Hanto Daily News that monitored the situation reports that as a result of the resumption of railway activities between Aba and Port Harcourt, the two stations located at the commercial nerve centre of Eastern Nigeria and Capital of Rivers State, have been overwhelmed with overflow of passengers who throng them each day.
Before the restoration of rail line activities, commuters had suffered untold hardship in getting to either of the cities following the total dilapidation of the Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway which remains the shortest link between the two economically strategic cities and currently, the high cost of transportation that resulted from the removal of oil subsidy.
Speaking with our Correspondent, some passengers including Mrs Juliana Ugwuatu, Mr Emeka Ndukwe and Mrs Rhema Richard described it as a relief to them in terms of transport fares, revealing that they were paying at least 2,500 Naira as fares before the train services recommenced.
According to them, it costs second class passengers 800 Naira while it takes 1,500 Naira for the first class couch and expressed excitement for the return of train operation that guarantees comfort and safety.
While commending the federal government for the gesture, they appealed for further reduction in the fares, arguing that it formally cost 200 and 400 Naira for the second and first class couches.
They however demanded more trains to enable the accommodation of all passengers intending to use train services and solicited the realization of the Aba – Umuahia –Enugu corridor while hoping that connecting to the Northern parts of the Country will also be achieved before long.
Reacting, the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Railway Corporation Aba terminal – Mr Israel Uwalekwu said that operations of the railway station have and business activities have resumed fully, revealing that passengers are turning up for Aba to Port Harcourt.
Mr Uwalekwu who expressed joy that the Port Harcourt to Aba terminal is the first phase of the rehabilitation contract, assured that the rehabilitation of the Aba- Maiduguiri railway line will soon commence to give every passenger the opportunity to travel to any part of the country at cheaper rates.
