Get Guardian on GoogleIn a development that reflected sustained demand for rail transportation, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) recorded 1,075,023 passenger journeys between July and September 2026, despite a significant decline in freight movement towards the end of the quarter.
Data from the corporation showed a steady increase in passenger traffic during the three months, rising from 345,942 journeys in July to 363,261 in August, and 365,820 in September.
Passenger traffic increased by approximately five per cent between July and August, followed by a marginal 0.7 per cent growth in September.
A breakdown of the figures showed that standard-gauge services accounted for 473,935 passenger journeys, while narrow-gauge operations recorded 601,088 during the period.
The Lagos–Ibadan Train Service led passenger movement among the standard-gauge routes at 357,410 journeys within the quarter, its monthly passenger figures standing at 106,494 in July, 133,652 in August and 117,264 in September.
The Abuja–Kaduna Train Service recorded 85,489 passenger journeys, while the service identified as BATTS in the report accounted for 30,762.
Within the narrow-gauge network, MTT services recorded 481,381 passenger journeys, while the Aba–Port Harcourt–Aba route accounted for 97,506. Also, the Jos MTT service recorded 22,201 passenger journeys during the three months.
However, the passenger movement growth contrasted with the weakening performance of freight operations, particularly towards September, thereby raising questions about the corporation’s ability to sustain growth across its passenger and cargo businesses.
