The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed the ongoing refurbishment of additional vehicles to increase the number of passengers it conveys per trip from Aba to Port Harcourt as the festive season gets closer.

Mr Onyedikachi Onovo, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NRC South East Zone, confirmed the new development to our correspondent in an interview.

According to Onovo, two vehicles which were seen in Aba on Wednesday that got residents concerned about what was happening, were moved from Enugu to Aba via articulated vehicles.

Answering questions about the movement of the vehicles seen, Onovo told our correspondent that the action was official, as the vehicles were not being lifted but being dropped off at Aba station.

“What you saw was two vehicles and a baggage van which left Enugu on Sunday and arrived in Aba early Monday morning and Tuesday night.

“The reason is that we want to reduce the overcrowding we are having on our trains”, Onovo.”

He said that the vehicles had to go to Aba by road where rehabilitation had started on them to help increase the number of passengers.

Onovo said that once the rehabilitations are completed, the vehicles will be attached to the trains to start lifting passengers.

“We are actually trying to beat the Christmas rush which would begin in a few days time. Currently, the Port Harcourt to Aba train takes between 500 and 900 passengers per trip.

“But with these additional vehicles, we will be able to convey over 1000 passengers per trip”, he said

Onovo said that with the ongoing improvement, the Port Harcourt to Aba train should be able to convey over 2000 passengers daily.

The NRC PRO said following the assurances of the Minister for Transport and the NRC MD, the Aba-Umuahia track will be completed as soon as the issue of funding is sorted out.