Transport Minister, Hon. Rotimi Ameachi, has approved the immediate commencement of the Mass Transit Train Service between Port Harcourt and Aba as part of the positive change in the transportation sector the ministry wants to achieve under the present administration.
He described train services in different parts of Nigeria as ones that need urgent improvement, just as he also said that facilities must be urgently overhaul to attract passengers.
Recalled that sequel to substantial progress on the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge network of Eastern Rail line traversing Port Harcourt to Gombe, the Nigerian Railway Corporation earlier this year commenced Intercity Train Services from Port Harcourt to Kano and also from Port Harcourt to Gombe.
A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations of Nigeria Railway Corporation,(NRC) Akinwoye Abdul Raouf, said the Port Harcourt -Aba service was part of Federal Government quest to providing affordable and reliable train services across the country.
He said Amaechi together with the Governors of Rivers and Abia state will flag off the Port Harcourt-Aba train service on Wednesday December 16.2015 for the two benefitting states.
“Going by the economic potentials of Port Harcourt and Aba in commerce, tourism and industrialisation, there is hope for proactive economic growth and virile positive change in the lives of the citizenry in the two benefitting states.” The statement reads
The train service is scheduled to run four trips daily from Monday to Saturday with the train departing Aba at 05:00 am to arrive Port Harcourt at 7:15 am same day.
