The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the resumption of commercial services on the Abuja-Kaduna train corridor following the suspension caused by a derailment on August 26, 2025.
In a statement by its Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, the NRC confirmed that all required safety, technical, and operational checks had been successfully completed.
“This step underscores the Corporation’s commitment to ensuring smooth, reliable, and secure train services for the traveling public,” the statement read.
The August 26 incident, which was the second derailment at the same station within 13 months, occurred shortly after the train passed a manually operated switch point previously declared unserviceable. An investigation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) linked the accident to defective infrastructure and lapses in safety management by the NRC.
The NRC disclosed that of the 583 passengers on board the affected train, 530 were contacted by phone, and 512 had successfully received refunds.
It added that all 22 injured passengers had been contacted and visited by the medical team, with each entitled to one free ride per week until December 31, 2025. In total, all 618 people on board would be given one free ride before the end of the year.
The Abuja-Kaduna train service will now operate as follows:
- Abuja – Kaduna: IDU (08:45), Kubwa (09:05), Rigassa (12:42 arrival)
- Kaduna – Abuja: Rigassa (14:30), Kubwa (18:02), IDU (18:23 arrival)
The NRC also announced that every Wednesday will now be reserved for maintenance on the route.
Appreciating the patience of passengers during the suspension, the NRC reaffirmed its mission to deliver “safe, affordable, efficient, and more customer-friendly rail transportation that supports national connectivity and economic growth.”
