NRC to commence electronic ticketing service for Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe routes

The Nigerian Railways Corporation, NRC, received approval from the Infrastructure Concessions Regulatory Commission, ICRC to begin the process of selecting electronic ticketing service providers for the Lagos–Ibadan and Warri standard gauge rail service –Itakpe.

The ICRC issued a Schematic Commercial Certificate to the NRC on Sunday to enable it to process providers of online ticketing solutions for routes under a Public-Private Partnership acquisition.

Introducing the certification, ICRC Acting Director Mike Ohiani said the NRC could now move to the concessionaire acquisition phase for approval by the Federal Executive Council.

“In the past, tickets were sold in a physical store or delivered to the respective train ticket train station for purchase. In recent times, ticket vending machines have appeared that have improved the efficiency and productivity of the train service.

“The technological advancement of recent years has led to the emergence of mobile ticketing or electronic ticketing.

”The general scope of both projects is to design, finance, operate, build, operate and manage a secure ticket solution system (hardware and software) for the passenger stations in the Lagos – Ibadan Standard Train Service and the Warri Standard Train -Itakpe. Service, ”Ohiani said.

He said the introduction of e-ticketing would reduce operating costs, reduce cash handling and multiple types of fare means, as well as minimize human involvement in fare transactions on board.

Mr Ohiani said that e-tickets would help gather information, help improve service to passengers and provide a platform for fare transactions.

Speaking at the event, NRC Managing Director Fidet Okhiria said the concessionaire would operate electronic ticketing with NRC staff and deliver new replacement technology to them after 10 years of operation.

He congratulated the ICRC for issuing NRC with the commercial certificate, adding that overbooking and lack of seats would be a thing of the past with the introduction of electronic ticketing on the Lagos and Warri railways.

NAN reports that e-ticketing started on the Abuja-Kaduna train service in January this year, after more than two years of the acquisition process; it reduced the cases of ticket extortion that had previously plagued the train service.

(NAN)