The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has called off the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) scheduled for February 19, 2025, due to operational challenges.
Passengers who had booked tickets received an email on Wednesday morning informing them of the cancellation and assuring them of an automatic refund.
The train was set to depart Ujevwu in Delta State at 8:00 AM and arrive in Itakpe, Kogi State, by 2:30 PM before making the return journey.
The disruption affects hundreds of travellers who depend on the service for transportation.
The notice sighted by News About Nigeria read:
“Dear Customer, we regret to inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances, the train service scheduled for 19th February 2025 has been cancelled.
“Please be assured that a refund of your payment will be processed automatically to your account.
“Additionally, we kindly advise you not to visit the train station, as there will be no train operation across the stations.
“We deeply regret this disruption to your plans and assure you that this is a temporary issue”
Some passengers alleged that the poor state of the tracks, which have seen multiple derailments, contributed to the NRC’s decision.
They also raised concerns about inadequate maintenance of locomotives and coaches, as well as reported issues with ticketing fraud.
According to complaints, certain individuals manipulate the online booking system by purchasing all available tickets and reselling them at higher prices for gain.
In response to ticketing concerns, the NRC announced that from Monday, February 17, 2025, only passengers whose IDs match their tickets will be allowed to board.
