The Abuja Rail Mass Transit on Monday commenced commercial train services on the Airport-Idu-Central Area metro line, Okey Ugwuanyi, the Airport station manager, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr Ugwuanyi said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), had been running free services since the inauguration of the metro line by President Muhammadu Buhari in July.

He said the cost of the ticket was set at N1,000 for adult on the airport to metro station, N500 on Idu to Airport and N500 on Idu to Metro station.

According to him, children will pay N700 between airport and metro station, N300 between Airport and Idu while persons living with disabilities would pay N500 and N250 respectively on the routes.

Mr Ugwuanyi also disclosed that the management had only approved two trips per day into and from the airport, adding that effort was being made to increase the frequency as soon as possible.

He added that more locomotives and coaches would be added to boost the conveyance of early morning passengers and airport workers.

“We have been running free services for the past one month and today is the beginning of our commercial operation.

“From this airport station to the metro station, we charge N1,000 per adult passenger; from here to Idu, we charge N500 and from Idu to Metro station, we charge N500.

“We charge N700 from the airport to the Metro station and N300 to Idu for children while persons living with disabilities are being charged N500 and N250 respectively.

“Our current operation is two trips per day from the airport to the metro station in the town and from the metro station to the airport.

“The train takes off from Idu at 9:20 a.m. to metro station, leaves for the airport at 10.00 a.m. and arrives at the airport at 10:40 a.m.

“The train departs from the airport at 1:30 p.m, to arrive at the metro station at 2:10 p.m. while the second trip commences from metro station at 2:30 p.m. to arrive the airport at 3:10 p.m.

“Finally, it leaves the airport at 4:20 p.m. to arrive metro station at 5:00 p.m.,’’ he said.

A passenger, Chinedu Opara, described the metro line project as a good development, adding that the system had made movement to the airport so easy.

Mr Opara said the stress of looking for cab, paying high cost and the risk of insecurity on the road had been addressed by the rail line.

He, however, urged the FCTA to review downward the N1,000 ticket cost and increase the frequency of train service for greater access to more air passengers.

Ahmed Shehu, a lawyer, commended the government for completing the project, adding that the train station had added more beauty to the airport.

Mr Shehu, a retired director at the Ministry of Transportation, said the train service was cheaper, safer and faster for airport users than to using cabs.

He that that the downward review was imperative in the interest of of the low and medium income earners who might find it difficult to use the train.

“In every respect, this is a welcome development and a great relief because this is the kind of infrastructure that we have looked forward to getting from the government in the past.

“Unfortunately, it is coming this rather late but it is a good development.

“In terms of comparison with using taxi to and from airport, this is a lot cheaper, safer and probably even faster and in terms of the cost, no taxi can charge less than N3,000 to town but this is N1,000.

“But again, relatively speaking, government still needs to consider the low and average income level of not only the users of the airport but the surrounding villagers as well.

“Perhaps, N500 should be appropriate because the socio-economic environment of Nigeria is not so encouraging at the moment.

“Youths are out of job and agriculture is rather unsustainable around here. So, I will say it is a bit costly and I appeal to the authority to see to it that this cost is reduced.

“Our people should be accommodated in a manner that will enable them to enjoy the fallout of democratic government,’’ he said. (NAN)

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/north-central/286152-abuja-metro-line-begins-commercial-train-services.html

Good

Why dont they add bus metro card option for multiple rides. I wouldn't want to buy single tickets each day. The the convenience beats the expense. The person complaining about fair is silly. If they dont already they should be selling these tickets online. They people where able to pay taxis and keke to get around but rail is suddenly to expensive?

They do need to add more coaches. The train shouldn't stop opperating before airport closes. It should be open til at least 12 am like alot of cities.

Nigerians must chased this Lifeless government and her ruler back to Daura next year

NigeriaIsDoomed:
Nigerians must chased this Lifeless government and her ruler back to Daura next year

Mumu. Wailing like a zombie just to feel good. Its your kind that still complains of hunger even after they must have put a full pot of food in front of you to eat.

Butterflyleo:


Mumu. Wailing like a zombie just to feel good. Its your kind that still complains of hunger even after they must have put a full pot of food in front of you to eat.

Seems only hunger is your problem, I can volunteer to be sending you my dog's crumbs.
Don't be ashamed afterall you are not better off than Osun State IDPs who cried out for help when APC induced hunger almost killed them.
If you are hungry and you choose to die in silence you will rot in hell for committing suicide.

NigeriaIsDoomed:

Seems only hunger is your problem, I can volunteer to be sending you my dog's crumbs.
Don't be ashamed afterall you are not better off than Osun State IDPs who cried out for help when APC induced hunger almost killed them.
If you are hungry and you choose to die in silence you will rot in hell for committing suicide.

Ogbeni take your L and slither away. You who cannot even afford to feed an ekuke is talking about crumbs.

Someone like me does not like to brag because I know if I was to do that, it would mean that I would turn you into a millionaire just through showing off to you.

Go and sit down before you hurt yourself

Butterflyleo:


Ogbeni take your L and slither away. You who cannot even afford to feed an ekuke is talking about crumbs.

Someone like me does not like to brag because I know if I was to do that, it would mean that I would turn you into a millionaire just through showing off to you.

Go and sit down before you hurt yourself

Then you should not reduce everything to food if you are not hungry and starved.
Man shall not live by bread alone.

NigeriaIsDoomed:
Then you should not reduce everything to food if you are not hungry and starved.
Man shall not live by bread alone.

My food reference was used for your sort since that's the level you operate on as wailers on 15k a month allowance from the locust party

Butterflyleo:


My food reference was used for your sort since that's the level you operate on as wailers on 15k a month allowance from the locust party

Suppose you received your 500 Naira monthly stipend

Its not enough the train is there and cheaper than sbd safer than other modes of transport. The government even let train run free over a month. The guy is just a cheapskate wrapping his penny pinching in the flag.

Mr Shehu, a retired director at the Ministry of Transportation, said the train service was cheaper, safer and faster for airport users than to using cabs.

He that that the downward review was imperative in the interest of of the low and medium income earners who might find it difficult to use the train.

“Our people should be accommodated in a manner that will enable them to enjoy the fallout of democratic government,’’ he said.