The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced a temporary halt to operations along the Warri-Itakpe route after a technical issue caused by an engine failure.
The disruption, which took place on April 9, prompted NRC to suspend train services for 72 hours, according to a statement released on Thursday by Henrietta Eregare, the corporation’s Public Relations Officer.
The suspension will allow the NRC’s technical team to conduct an in-depth inspection, address the underlying issues, and restore safe and efficient service to passengers.
The disruption began at 1:38 PM and affected the 8:00 AM service from Warri and the 2:00 PM train from Itakpe. Although emergency recovery operations were initiated, the failure of the engine hindered the efforts.
To ensure the safety of passengers, NRC coordinated the safe evacuation of all onboard, providing road transport with adequate security. Passengers were guided to vehicles positioned approximately 500 meters from the affected train, though some chose to make their own travel arrangements due to the delays in recovery.
For passengers affected by the disruption, NRC confirmed they are eligible for either a full refund or the option to revalidate tickets for future journeys.
Detailed information about the refund and revalidation process can be accessed through the NRC’s website, customer service, or at its stations.
The NRC expressed sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused by this unexpected event and assured passengers that efforts are underway to restore normal services as swiftly as possible.
The corporation reaffirmed its commitment to the safety, reliability, and comfort of all its passengers and appreciated their patience and understanding.