Passengers stranded as Abuja-Kaduna train derails

An Abuja-Kaduna passenger train on Tuesday derailed close to Jere Station.

The incident left hundreds of passengers stranded, though no life was lost.

In a video trending online, onlookers could be heard saying “the train is full and they are coming out”.

Confirming the incident, the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, said the train derailed between Kubwa station and Asham station.

A statement signed by NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa,
said emergency responders have been drafted to the scene of the incident.

Opeifa said: “NRC confirms a train derailment involving its Kaduna bound AKTS train service at about 11.09 at KM 49 between Kubwa station and Asham station.

“Emergency rescue, medical personnel, and nearby hospitals have already been mobilised.

“Full compliment of security already on ground as effort is ongoing to move all passengers on train back to Abuja safely. Kindly bear with us at this moment.”

This comes days after the NRC confirmed that one of the coaches’ wheels on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, AKTS, experienced a hot axle several kilometres from Rigasa Station in Kaduna.

The earlier incident, which occurred on August 20, was attributed to hot wheel friction resulting from abnormal temperatures caused by excessive heat on the journal housing.