Sallah Rush: NRC Adds Extra Lagos–Ibadan Trips as Osun Rolls Out Free Festival Train Schedule
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced a temporary increase in train operations on the Lagos–Ibadan Train Service (LITS) corridor ahead of the Sallah celebrations, while the Osun State Government will once again provide free train transportation for indigenes travelling home for the festivities.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday, the NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Mr. Callistus Unyimadu, said the adjustment was introduced to cater to the anticipated surge in passenger traffic during the festive period.
According to him, the corporation will operate six train trips on Tuesday, May 26, instead of the usual four trips on the Lagos–Ibadan route.
Under the special schedule, trains will depart Lagos at 7:45 a.m., 1:40 p.m., and 4:00 p.m., while departures from Ibadan are slated for 8:00 a.m., 10:50 a.m., and 4:30 p.m.
Unyimadu explained that the expanded schedule is strictly temporary and applies only during the Sallah travel window, adding that the regular four-trip Tuesday timetable will resume after the celebrations.
He also disclosed that the recently introduced six-trip Thursday service would be temporarily reduced to four trips on Thursday, May 28, after which the normal six-trip Thursday operations would return the following week.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Government will operate its annual free Sallah train service on the NRC narrow-gauge corridor for indigenes travelling to Osogbo to celebrate the festival.
The special train is scheduled to depart Iddo Station in Lagos on Tuesday, May 26, while the return journey from Osogbo to Lagos will take place on Thursday, May 28.
The free service, sponsored by the Osun State Government through a partnership arrangement with the NRC, is aimed at easing travel for Osun indigenes during the festive season.
The NRC reaffirmed its commitment to providing safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation across the country and wished Nigerians a peaceful and memorable Sallah celebration.