FG Increases Abuja-Kaduna Train Fare by 100%

The federal government saturday increased the Abuja-Kaduna train fare by 100 percent across economy, business and first class categories, attributing its decision to the impact of COVID-19 on the train services.

With the fare increase, the federal government disclosed that the Abuja-Kaduna rail services would resume Wednesday, July 29, four months after it suspended the service to curtail the spread of the pandemic.

The hike was revealed in a statement the Federal Ministry of Transportation issued yesterday, announcing the resumption of the train service.

Before the federal government announced lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States on March 30 due to the pandemic, economy class only cost N1, 500; first class normal N2, 500 and first class express N3, 000.

With the need to enforce social distancing aboard the coaches, the federal government increased the fare of the economy from N1,500 to N3,000; first class normal from N2,500 to N5,000 and first class express from N3,000 to N6,000, representing a 100 percent across all categories.

Quoting the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi in its statement yesterday, the ministry disclosed that the Abuja-Kaduna rail services would begin Wednesday.

The minister disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved an increase in train fares during an inspection and test run of the 10 newly acquired coaches and 2 locomotives deployed on the Abuja – Kaduna rail corridor.