Railway Transport System: A preferred transportation mode to road travel transportation

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(Edited)

I might not remember the last time I took a journey through Nigeria Railway system, may be when I was a kid, don't be surprised, this is the same ordeal for majority of Nigerians, especially the old folks who experienced life at its peak during the past six (6) decades and above.

Life was at its peak for Nigerians when Nigeria was the giant of Africa, when minds were not corrupted, when Saudi Arabians used to come down to the country and seek for medical diagnosis, when there was no separation between scholarship and education, when Nigeria remained the major export of oil and diesel in the whole of Africa, when cocoa farming was at its peak and used judiciously to build Universities, roads and buildings such as cocoa house in ibadan and when things were truly working well and in the way it ought to be.

Specifically, majority of those who were born in Nigeria in the past four decades and below might not have board a train before throughout their entire life, not because there was none in the country but the functionality in terms of the basic amenities which a good railway system should have were lacking and that is one of the things which distracted people's attention totally from the railway system and government had to put a stop to it in 1988 precisely.

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An image of the newly introduced train system between Ibadan to Lagos route. Witnessed by myself @noble-noah at the Obafemi Awolowo Railway station, Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria

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My Boarding Experience with the new Railway System

Recently, the current government renovated the Lagos - Ibadan, Ibadan - Abuja railway system in order to put the railway system at work again, and this gesture is expected to go round the country, as such many people are happy that they will soon witness their first ever train ride in the country again, especially among the young folks, it also rekindled the spirit of train transportation system among the old folks who might have experienced it prior to its suspension in 1988.

Unlike road system , Ibadan-Lagos railway station has a standard gauge rail covering a total distance of 156km within two hours from Moniya terminus in Ibadan to Yaba terminus in Lagos.

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Image showing people waiting to collect ticket. Image from myself @noble-noah

The curiosity to witness the changes in the railway system and to join my long awaiting train ride in the country made me to depart my home on Sunday, December 26th, 2021 as early as possible in-order to meet up with the railway system time-table, precicely 8: 00.am schedule. I got the ticket, not long I arrived at the station and guess how much, just #2,600 equivalent to $5, even though the money was later cancelled by the government as a complement of the season bonus till January 4th, 2022. The ticket is shown below

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Nigeria Railway Corporation Train Ticket. Image from myself @noble-noah

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Finally inside the train for a very long time. Image from me @noble-noah

Before we enter into the train, there was a little delay and all of us were panic, we are suppose to start the journey at exactly 8:00 am. as scheduled for that day which happened to be Sunday, after a while, the manager had to address the passengers and he made the announcement that there will be a little delay in before we take off the journey and the delay is due to the fact that some of the elements of railway gauges had been removed and failure to replace those elements before embarking on the journey might result to accident, basically there are four different types of rail gauges, namely: Narrow gauge, Broad gauge, , Standard gauge (for Delhi Metro), and Meter Gauge and the one adopted here in my cpuntry is shown in the image below

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Image showing rail gauges. Images from me @noble-noah

The Rail gauge as shown above can be referred to as a clear minimum vertical distance between the inner sides of the two tracks on any railway path. Although further investigation revealed the fact almost 60 percentage (60%) of the world's railway system uses standard gauge of 1,435 mm.

The Train Facilities

It will not be appreciative enough not to mention the new facilities put in place to ensure people enjoy their journey:

  • Toilet

The new train system has a good toilet system facility, well tidy and clean as shown in the image captured below

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Train Toilet. Image from myself @noble-noah

  • Air Conditioning System

During the journey, we had full air conditioning system, unlike those days when the train used to be supported with open window to receive outer air and no fixed air conditioning system (AC). It was a splendid journey indeed.

  • A fixed socket connection

Unlike those days where there is no fixed socket connection where one may plug electronic gadgets, the new train system incorporated a fixed socket connection within the train system, there were also fixed ten (10) inch television sets to entertain the passengers, as well as security cameras were also mounted in the cabin. A provision for overhead load cabins was also put in place and many more.

The criteria to be checked before boarding a train

No doubt we are in covid-19 period, it is part of the criteria by the courteous NRC officials to check for the passenger's covid-19 status and every passenger must put on their face mask along with the identification card which may be an international passport, work ID, voter card or national ID were all made compulsory before buying a ticket at the counter.

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Conclusion

The journey was a comfortable ride and I enjoyed Nigeria Railway System again since it was suspended as far back as 1988.

Railway transport system is a preferred transportation mode to road travel transportation because of its many benefits: like traffic free, no potholes, no police checkpoints, and no fear of running into kidnappers and the bandits who are taking advantage of Nigeria’s poor roads system. For now it is convenient and safe but without good maintenance it may turn otherwise later.

Thank you for being with me during my tour through railwal transport system, a case study of Nigeria Railway System. Enjoy yourself, travel and catch fun during this holiday.

It is always good to be good and don't forget to carry more of good deeds with you. Bye for now

References

1. NIGERIA’S RAILWAY SYSTEM: DEVELOPMENT, DECLINE AND REBIRTH
2.cocoa house in ibadan



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15 comments
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Hopefully, we will be able to do proper maintenance of all these trains. We are in the 21st century and train should be the barest minimum as a mode of transportation for a serious country.

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Yes, this is 21st century and I also think maintenance should not be the problem, both from the government side and the citizens.

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Specifically, majority of those who were born in Nigeria in the past four decades and below might not have board a train before throughout their entire life

I have never board a train before.....Lol! You have watered my appetite for rail transportation. Thank for writing this post

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(Edited)

I have never board a train before..

Can you imagine, a whole you (Mr. Gentle). Lol

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It seems our long-distance train transportation (AMTRAK) is dimensioning and is becoming more expensive by the year. It is cheaper to fly. We need a public ran option with more availability.

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Yes @joerhino it seems more expensive for now and that may affect its usage, it costs more than the road transportation which is not suppose to be, may be it will be cheaper to fly with later

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Maybe one day if they can make it more economical and accessible it will be widely used.

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(Edited)

That is a very good development in the aim of reducing pollution originating from cars. Now, I guess you should wait for more lines to open, and those lines to be used to make the system self-sustainable. Fingers are crossed!

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Now, I guess you should wait for more lines to open, and those lines to be used to make the system self-sustainable.

We 'll surely wait, considering its benefits like 'pollution reduction originating from cars' you mentioned here and many more. It always good to read from your end.

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(Edited)

A good question to ask would be about the net balance in terms of pollution (accounting for the production of energy needed by the trains). I am quite curious and am wondering (don't worry, I am all in favour of trains). But that's probably too early to have data on this.

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good question to ask would be about the net balance in terms of pollution (accounting for the production of energy needed by the trains)

Yes sir! I can see where your expertise will be needed but here no one cares for such investigation to deduce meaningful insight from the data else I would have wished to engage you in the future. Lol

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