Hundreds of commuters stranded as Abuja-Kaduna train develops fault en route to Abuja

The Abuja-Kaduna train service on Monday suffered a breakdown en route to Abuja few minutes after take off leaving hundreds of commuters stranded.

Some passengers, who had rushed to the Rigasa Station in Kaduna as early as 6.35am to be ferried to Abuja were disappointed as the train developed a mechanical fault barely 10 minutes after it took off.

It was learnt that some of the passengers were returning to the FCT after spending the weekend in Kaduna but could not get to work places early as scheduled.

“The train took off from the Rigasa Station in Kaduna and stopped twice on the way before getting to Dutse in Kaduna where it eventually packed up,” a visibly terrified passenger said.

Another passenger said: “I rushed to the terminal to join the 6.40am train on Monday and after the train left the Rigasa Station and moved for only few minutes it stopped,.

“I don’t think the train had moved for up to 10 minutes before it eventually packed up around Dutse in Kaduna. And this happened after it had stopped twice. I suspect that those stops were also due to faults.”

Commenting on the development, the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service Station Manager, Mr Paschal Nnorli, said the train packed up “due to mechanical failure.”

“It is true that our first train service this morning broke down in Kaduna but it was due to a mechanical failure that happens to machines generally.”

He, however, said the corporation responded by sending another locomotive as a rescue facility, adding that the faulty locomotive was being fixed.

“The important thing is our ability to respond and come to the rescue. We sent a rescue locomotive and as at about 10am I was told that the locomotive had arrived at the location,” Nnorli said, expressing regrets for the inconveniences caused by the passengers.

However, the passengers said they spent about three hours before they were moved out of the area for the two and half hours Abuja trip.