NRC suspends Warri-Itakpe train Service over engine failure

The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced a temporary suspension of its Warri-Itakpe train service due to an engine failure. The suspension, which takes effect from Thursday, will last for 72 hours.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the NRC’s acting spokesperson, Henrietta Eregare, on Thursday. According to the Corporation, the decision was made to ensure passenger safety and allow for necessary repairs and maintenance.

The NRC assured the public that efforts are already underway to restore services as quickly as possible and minimize inconvenience to commuters.

The statement read, “The disruption commenced at approximately 1:38 pm and affected both the 8 am departure from Warri and the 2 pm train from Itakpe.

“Emergency recovery protocols were immediately activated, but also suffered a setback due to engine failures.

“Following the incident, NRC swiftly arranged for the safe evacuation of all passengers via road transport with adequate security presence.

“Passengers were guided off the affected train to waiting cars approximately 500 metres from the track.

“Some passengers chose to arrange their transportation before the arrival of official recovery vehicles, a decision NRC understands given the delay.

“In view of the situation, the NRC has suspended operations on the Warri-Itakpe route for 72 hours.

“This pause will allow our technical team to conduct a full audit, resolve all identified issues, and restore safe and reliable service,” the statement stated.

The management assured passengers of a full fare refund or revalidation for future travel purposes, subject to the passenger’s decision.