Passengers shift to trains over 50% fare slash

A large number of passengers trooped to railway stations across the country on Tuesday as the Federal Government’s 50 per cent discounted Yuletide train service commenced.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation said major routes recorded heavy traffic and near-full capacity operations.

This development was disclosed in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the NRC, Callistus Unyimadu.

According to the NRC, the fare reduction, approved to ease the cost of festive travel, immediately triggered a surge in patronage on key corridors such as Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna, as well as on several narrow-gauge routes nationwide.

“Early bookings and physical turnout at stations reflected a strong public response, with many travellers taking advantage of the half-price fares to journey home for Christmas and New Year celebrations,” the statement partly read.

The corporation noted that the festive rail service, implemented by the NRC, runs from Tuesday, 23 December 2025, to Sunday, 4 January 2026, during which passengers enjoy a 50 per cent discount on train fares nationwide.

The statement added: “Many passengers who interacted with NRC officials expressed appreciation for the 50 per cent discounted fares, describing the initiative as timely, thoughtful, and economically relieving, especially for families and group travellers journeying to reunite with loved ones during the Yuletide season.

“The 50 per cent Yuletide Train Ride is a people-orientated intervention under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, aimed at reducing transportation costs, promoting inclusive mobility, and encouraging the use of rail transport as a safe and reliable alternative during peak travel periods.”

Speaking on the commencement of the discounted festive operations, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, assured passengers of the corporation’s readiness to sustain safe, efficient, and customer-focused services throughout the holiday season.

He confirmed that both standard-gauge and narrow-gauge services are fully operational, noting that enhanced security, safety, and customer service arrangements have been put in place across stations and onboard trains to manage the increased passenger traffic occasioned by the 50 per cent discount offer.

He advised passengers travelling on standard-gauge routes to “continue using NRC-approved online booking platforms, while passengers on narrow-gauge services can purchase their tickets directly at designated railway stations.”

The corporation reiterated its commitment to seamless festive operations and urged passengers to cooperate with railway officials and comply with all travel guidelines to ensure smooth and hitch-free journeys throughout the Yuletide discount period.