By Tosin Adesile
On the 7th of December 2020,the Lagos-Ibadan rail line commenced commercial operation, since then, I have been longing to ride to have first hand experience, what the new railway has to offer.
On the 14th of January,2021, I finally took a bold step leaving Ikorodu, at 3:00pm to catch up with the train at Ebutta-Meta, Lagos. On my way, traffic was so much that I feared missing the train like the practice oversea but luckily for me, the road cleared, and I arrived Yaba at 3.55pm.
As at that time, the train was about moving at the Nigeria Railway Corporation headquarters at Yaba and I was asked which destination I was heading to. I answered briskly, Abeokuta and I was given various options which are: 2000 naira (G-General), 3,500 (BC-Business class) and 5,000 ( FC-First Class). I decided to pay for Business class as I wanted to network which is the primary aim of entering BC or VIP as the name suggests.
Unknown to so many people, many people pay for business class or first class to show status but in my own case,it was the other way round. I was handed my ticket after paying,I moved straight to the next line to register my name in the manifest and from there,I was directed to the train.
As at 4:00pm that I entered the train,it was already about to move and we were enlightened on safety as well as various stop overs because the train will leave from Lagos to Ibadan and will pass through Papalanto Station-Laderin Station and then Ibadan in Moniya.
Inside the train,I saw many elderly men exchanging pleasantries and I also used the opportunity to make contacts while I looked round the train to get the necessary information I needed.
From my enquiry,the train works Monday to Saturday. The train leaves Ibadan every morning to Abeokuta-Lagos and goes back in the evening. On Saturday morning,it leaves Lagos -Abeokuta-Ibadan till Monday again.
The train ride was smooth and I watched with keen interest rain tracks, virgin lands for investments and underdeveloped communities on the way. While I was doing that, I stood up to make use of the rest-room,it was very clean and I only wished it would remain like that.
On my way back to my seat,I went to the bar,I drank water from the dispenser and moved to sit before I heard the announcement that we would be stopping at laderin train station to allow those dropping in Abeokuta and others joining to Ibadan take advantage for 5 minutes. It dawned on me that I will be alighting in few minutes.
It was exactly 1 hour and 25 minutes since we left Lagos at 4:15 and we arrived Abeokuta 5: 45pm.
There and then,I concluded that there is no difference between the train service abroad and here in Nigeria as the services were quite impressive, though admittedly, it can get better.
It is my hope that tickets will be made available to individuals with intent to travel, not touts and scalpers who will be reselling as I heard that conversation from two elderly men who planned to buy tickets in bulk and resell at a profit. This is totally unacceptable.
Also, refreshments should be given to those in Business class and First class, having paid that much for a journey of under two hours.
If you are yet to journey with the new railway,it is time to do that as this is an adventure to behold.