The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that the Abuja–Kaduna passenger train service will resume next week.
In a statement on Saturday, the NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, said the service was returning after repairs and safety checks were completed on the damaged track at Asham.
The corporation added that details of the exact date and timetable would be released in the coming days.
The train service had been suspended after it derailed on August 26, 2025. Since then, the NRC said it had worked round the clock to restore both the tracks and trains to meet global safety standards.
As part of its support for passengers, the NRC disclosed that it had refunded tickets to 512 out of the 583 passengers affected by the derailment. It said efforts were ongoing to reach the remaining passengers.
“The NRC appreciates the patience of our passengers and assures the public that safety, comfort, and satisfaction remain our top priority. We also thank the Ministry of Transportation, security agencies, the media, and stakeholders for their support,” the statement said.
The accident happened along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train left Abuja at about 11 am. Passengers recalled that the scene was chaotic, with people running for safety.
The next day, August 27, NRC’s Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, appeared on Channels Television and accepted full responsibility for the incident. He confirmed that four passengers sustained serious injuries.
On September 24, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) released preliminary findings. It revealed that poor maintenance and a faulty track switch caused the derailment.
Investigators said several damaged sleepers from an earlier incident were only patched instead of being properly repaired.
They also found that the automatic switch at the crossing point was not working and had to be manually fixed with a point clip, which later broke. This compromised the track alignment and caused the train to derail.
The NSIB report added that this was the second derailment at the same station in just 13 months.
It further noted that NRC staff had only basic training with no refresher courses, raising concerns about safety preparedness. The report also revealed that essential spare parts from the train manufacturers were not available when needed.
