NRC suspends service on Warri-Itakpe corridor due to technical glitches

Authorities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Thursday suspended train servives the Warri-Itakpe rail corridor due to multiple technical issues involving a train engine failure.

This followed a significant disruption that occurred on the Warri-Itakpe rail line on Tuesday, April 9, 2025,. Management has consequently suspended train services on the route for 72 hours.

The disruption commenced at approximately 1:38 pm and affected both the 8:00 am departure from Warri and the 2:00 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 meters from the track.

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

This pause will allow our technical team to conduct a full audit, resolve all identified issues, and restore safe and reliable service.
In line with the NRC’s ticket refund and revalidation policy, all passengers with tickets for the affected services are eligible for a full refund or revalidation for future travel, based on their preference. Meanwhile, refund and revalidation processes are available on the online ticketing platforms, via the customer service lines, and at all NRC stations.

In a statement signed by Henrietta Eregare of the NRC Public Relations Department, it states that while it deeply regrets the inconveniences caused by this unexpected disruption, it takes full responsibility and is actively working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible, adding that, it remains fully committed to the safety, reliability, and comfort of passengers.

MIKE OCHONMA
Editor