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Train fares to rise by 1.6% in UK

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Host and hostesses of the new Lagos-Ibadan train

Train fares are expected to increase by 1.6 per cent in January next year in the United Kingdom as successive governments link annual rises to July’s inflation rate.

BBC quotes Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris as saying the rise reflects “unprecedented taxpayer support” for rail this year.

But unions said the rise was a “kick in the teeth” for passengers.

An average increase of 2.6 per cent across all fares will still be the lowest since 2017, and it will only last nine months, until the end of 2021.

Had the rise come in January it would have equated to a 1.95% jump across the whole year.

Until 28 February season tickets holders can renew at existing prices and the cost of daily fares will stay the same.

‘Keeping services running’

Rail travel has been badly hit during the coronavirus crisis, and Mr Heaton-Harris said delaying the price rise from January “ensures passengers who need to travel have a better deal this year”.

Regulated fares make up about half of fares and include season tickets on most commuter routes. But operators are expected to match their rises for unregulated fares.

It means, for example, a Brighton-to-London annual season ticket going up by about £129 to £5,109, and a Manchester-to-Glasgow off-peak return rising by £2.30 to £90.60.

Government to cut £1bn from rail budget

The rail minister said, “By setting fares sensibly, and with the lowest actual increase for four years, we are ensuring that taxpayers are not overburdened for their unprecedented contribution, ensuring investment is focused on keeping vital services running and protecting frontline jobs.”

The government took over rail franchise agreements from train operators in March, following the collapse in demand for travel caused by the virus crisis. This is expected to have cost about £10bn by mid-2021.

The rise would help recover some of the significantly increased costs met by taxpayers to keep services running during the pandemic, Heaton-Harris said.

Jacqueline Starr, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, representing train operators, acknowledged that “passengers will be disappointed” about the fares rise, adding that “governments must ultimately decide the balance between how much fare payers and taxpayers pay to run the railway”.

She added that industry remained committed to working with the government to make the fares and ticketing system easier to use.

The department has written to all operators telling them to begin immediate work on developing flexible season tickets, allowing people who travel two or three days a week to save money compared with buying daily tickets. Firms have been told these must be introduced across England by the end of next year.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of consumer watchdog Transport Focus, said, “This fare increase makes it even more important that, when travel restrictions start to be lifted, the industry is able to attract people back by offering fares that match how we know people hope to live, work and travel in future.”

Union leaders condemned the rise, with Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staff Association calling it a “kick in the teeth for passengers”.

He said, “Ministers are well aware that millions have suffered this year with the uncertainty of employment, a changing picture on furlough provision, pay cuts, wages freezes and lost jobs. So, to reach for a hike in fares of this size is both extortionate and plain daft.”

Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said ticket prices are being “forced up to subsidise private profit. The time is right for a publicly owned railway system that delivers reasonable fares for our people as the public and the economy tries to recover and shake off the COVID crisis next year.”

Railway

New Port Harcourt – Maiduguri rail network ready soon, says minister

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New Port Harcourt – Maiduguri rail network ready soon, says minister

Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, says the nee Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line will be ready soon.

He said the rail project would be completed on time and meet the highest international standards.

According to him, the rail network is a clear testament to the current administration’s commitment to infrastructural development, economic growth, and national cohesion.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Monday by the Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to the minister, Jamilu Ja’afaru.

The minister said upon completion of the rail line, Nigerians would enjoy good trade, access market, and business places easily, and also boost agricultural production and its movement.

The minister noted that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line is not just a transportation project but a transformation project.

He said: “It is about the movement of goods, people, and opportunities. It is about connecting Nigeria and driving growth.

“The 1,657km rail network, cutting across 13 states; Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Adamawa promises to unlock unprecedented benefits.

“In Rivers State, the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line will boost the state’s status as a major hub for commerce and trade, connecting it to key economic centres across the country.

“Abia, known for its vibrant commerce and industry, will enjoy improved business linkages, bolstering local industries and empowering small and medium-sized enterprises.

“The line will also stimulate agricultural productivity in states like Benue, known as Nigeria’s “food basket”, providing farmers with better access to markets, reducing post-harvest losses, and fostering rural development while Nasarawa and Plateau will reap the benefits in terms of easier movement of mineral resources, thereby boosting mining activities.

“In the North-East, atates like Bauchi, Gombe, and Borno will benefit significantly as the rail line would facilitate the quick and cost-effective movement of goods and people, fostering social integration, economic growth, and the much-needed post-insurgency reconstruction in the region.”

He added that Akwa Ibom and Cross River would witness enhanced tourism potential, with easier access to their rich cultural heritage and beautiful landscapes while Ebonyi and Adamawa states would also benefit from improved trade and commerce, fostered by the efficient transportation of goods and services.”

 

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E-ticketing formally takes off on Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe rail lines today

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E-ticketing formally takes off on Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe rail lines today

 

Passengers travelling on popular Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri trains, both standard gauge, will henceforth pay for their tickets online as the electronic ticketing system formally commences today, Wednesday November 1, 2023.

Ahead of today’s rollout, the launch of the e-ticketing for the two new rail lines took place on Monday in Abuja with Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, expressing excitement about the innovative payment system.

This came after a trial run of the project for about a week.

The minister assured Nigerians that their data is safe because the booking would be done in a government-owned website.

The electronic ticketing contract was awarded earlier this year by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to two different companies for the Lagos-Ibadan route and the Warri-Itakpe route at a total cost of N1.96bn.

Like the Abuja-Kaduna train, Nigerians going on any of the two trains will henceforth be required to log on to the website of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and book their ticket using their National Identification Number (NIN) to purchase their tickets.

During the Monday launch in Abuja, Mr Pushrar demonstrating how to book ticket online, stated that a customer could only be allowed to purchase not more than three tickets, one for himself and he must provide the NIN of the two others he is purchasing for to avoid ticket racketeering.

Chairman of Fane International Consults, Mr Olufisayo Ishola, said customers must purchase tickets 24 hours before departure and there is no refund of money if the customer fails to show up.

He said once the ticket has been booked online, the customer only has five minutes to make payment, failing to do that within that time will lead to the cancellation of the ticket, noting that there is a N100 extra inconvenience fee by booking he said

Also, there will be point-of-sale machines for those who want to purchase at the station. The contractors explained that the machines for ticket purchases will be linked with the system to track payments and ensure no racketeering.

According to him, there will also be a verification point before boarding to ensure that the data of customers matches that of the ticket holder.

Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria, also said the e-ticketing platform would increase revenue generation for the Federal Government.

He said the Federal Government had given the management of the e-ticketing for the Warri-Itakpe and Lagos–Ibadan routes to Ticketing Solutions Limited and Global Software and Digital Solution respectively for 10 years.

“I am happy about this project; apart from the fact that e-ticketing will end issues of ticket racketeering, it will also increase revenue from the routes.

“Already, last week, revenue on Warri-Itakpe increased from N3m to N4m and will increase further,” he said.

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Updated: Lagos-Ibadan train set to go 80km/h, NRC warns traders around track 

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Updated: Lagos-Ibadan trains set to go 80km/h, NRC warns traders around track 

* Railway workers caught on camera collecting money get dismissal verdict

Trains on travelling on Lagos-Ibadan standard guage rail line will soon double their speed from 40 kilometres per hour to 80km/h.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this in interview with Television Continental (TVC) and warned all traders and other people still operating or playing around the track to stay clear.

Okhiria also announced that the electronic ticketing (e-ticketing) on the standard gauge lines would commence next week.

He said trains had operated on the Lagos-Ibadan line at 40km/h since it was inaugurated in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, the designed speed of the track is 150km and that NRC plans to gradually move to 120/h.

Okhiria stated, “We are going to be increasing our speed, especially within Lagos.

“I’m also using this opportunity to tell our brothers and sisters playing on the track to stop it.

“Right now, we are doing 40 kilometres. We are going to be moving to 80 kilometres because the tracks are designed for 150km/h but we won’t mind going gradually to 120km per hour, especially within Lagos.

“People should be aware of that and those who cross the track should be aware of that and they should obey the level crossing lights and obey our signal men.

“We have gone out to start making public announcements already at Oshodi, Yaba, Mushin and Agege, telling them that the speed of the train is going to go up as we cannot continue to short-change ourselves if the train is designed to run at 150km; it is not a place to trade.”

Okhiria also spoke on the introduction of e-ticketing on the route and others.

He said, “The e-ticketing is the way to go; it is the way to secure our money and investments because as you buy your ticket, it goes to the government coffers directly.

“We have it on Abuja-Kaduna train and we are also going to have it on Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri. By the end of the month, our passengers should start using it.”

Okhiria disclosed that some NRC workers caught on camera collecting fares for a ride in the train in Ibadan had been recommended for dismissal in accordance with the extant rules of the corporation.

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