Coupler Fault Suspected In Abuja-Kaduna Train Incident – NRC

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has released an interim report on a train incident that injured twenty-six people along the Kaduna–Abuja route.

In a statement signed by its Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, the corporation says the KA-2 service left Rigasa station at 7:15 a.m. on March 16 before experiencing a mechanical failure near Asham station at about 9:16 a.m.

The statement says a loud bang was heard when a power car and a trailing locomotive struck one of the coaches.

According to preliminary findings a possible fault in one or more couplers, though the exact cause of the suspected decoupling remains unclear.

It also says that no coaches derailed.

The statement explains that there were 481 people onboard, including 429 passengers, along with crew members, security personnel and other staff.

It says Twenty-six people suffered varying degrees of injuries, including passengers and onboard personnel.

The statement however says that the affected locomotive and coaches were detached, allowing the train to continue its journey hence, it departed the scene at 9:42 a.m. and arrived at Idu station in Abuja at 10:39 a.m, about thirty-eight minutes behind schedule.

The corporation says services have resumed on the route, though some delays remain, as investigations continue.

PR Oduyemi Odumade