By; SUNDAY ODE, Abuja
The Federal Government Tuesday dropped a hint of a likely increase in the train fare for Abuja-Kaduna route.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, gave the hint in an interview with State House correspondents after he had met with President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed-doors at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This is coming barely two days to the scheduled commissioning of some 10 new coaches and two locomotives for the route by President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna during a working visit.
Currently a one-way VIP goes for about N1500, while regular ticket is sold for about N1050.
Amaechi, however failed to say the percentage of the increase that is being worked out.
He said the hike in the train charges is to ensure that passengers enjoy more comfort in the railway services.
The Abuja-Kaduna standard gauage railway which was started by the former Goodluck Jonathan administration was commissioned by the Buhari government in July 2016.
Amaechi said: “We discussed the commissioning of 10 new coaches and 2 locomotives which will bring the total number of coaches to 14 on the Kaduna-Abuja route.
“The president is pleased with the arrangement because basically we will then be able to discharge the passengers pressure that we have had, which is why you have ticket racketeering. When demand outstrips supply then you see all sorts of attempts to cheat the passengers.
“There are two things I know the president likes, I have mentioned one, the second one, is after commissioning, even the passengers agree that the cost of transportation to Kaduna via the railway is a bit too cheap. So there will be a need to increase the price and then there will be more comfort. More comfort in the sense that when you have excess seats multiplied by the number of passengers that will come, then anybody that wants to racketeer will have to eat the tickets himself.”
According to the minister also, one of the locomotives will be dedicated to direct trip from Kaduna to Abuja non-stop, that should be doing 1:15 or 1:20 minutes non-stop.
That, he said, will enable those living in Kaduna and working in Abuja to come to work on time.
