Some rail passengers in Ilorin on Friday commended the Federal Government for resuscitating the railway transport system in the country.
A cross-section of passengers, who boarded the train travelling from Lagos to Ilorin, said they were happy with the project.
They, however, called on the Federal Government to extend the weekend train shuttle to other parts of the country.
One of the passengers, Mr Charles Michael, said that he took the opportunity to come to Ilorin to celebrate Christmas with his family.
Michael noted that the journey was interesting and that the fare was quite cheaper, if compared with other means of transportation.
Another passenger, Kikelomo Adekunle, who also commended the Federal Government for resuscitating rail transportation, however, noted that the journey took a longer time.
She, nonetheless, urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to put in place a modern rail system for the country.
Dr Godwin Annotor, the Principal Station Manager of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Ilorin, also said that the weekly shuttle service was inaugurated over two months ago.?
“The train usually comes to Ilorin every Friday and departs on Sunday. However, this one will leave on Saturday because of Christmas, which is on Sunday,’’ he said.
Annotor t said, no fewer than 300 passengers were aboard the shuttle train, noting that it left Lagos around 9 a.m. on Friday and got to Ilorin at about 8 p.m., instead of the scheduled time 6.30 p.m.
Some of the passengers, however, attributed the delay to stopovers at Ibadan, Iwo, Ede, Osogbo and Offa.