The high-speed train was just completed by the China Civil
Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) and cost $849
million. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway
Corporation (NRC), Adeseyi Sijuwade, while addressing the
media in Lagos, said
The high-speed train service will open for service in March
2016. It is the double-track, standard gauge between Abuja
and Kaduna that runs at 120Km and 150 Km an hour. Come
March, travelers will be able to journey from Abuja to
Kaduna (and vice-versa) in less than an hour.
“Next month, we’ll be taking delivery of modern coaches to
run on the standard gauge line, specifically for the Abuja-
Kaduna line, so that that service can commence
immediately, ” he added.
He further stated that the corporation was looking at a
February-March timeline to commence delivery of services.
The rail project was supposedly completed in December
2014, but was never delivered. And even if the delivery is 15
months later than expected, it is good news that the country
might finally be getting it right in the transportation sector.