The Traffic

Warri-Itakpe Train Service Returns After Setbacks — Now Running 6 Days a Week"

By Achimi Muktar

After weeks of silence and stalled engines, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the return of its Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS), with operations resuming on April 30, 2025—and a promise to run six days a week starting May 1.

The announcement comes as a major relief for regular passengers along the corridor, following the April 10 suspension due to what officials described as “technical and operational challenges”, including repeated engine failures.

Now, under a renewed schedule, WITS will operate Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, leaving Thursdays exclusively for maintenance—a strategic move NRC believes will minimize further disruptions.

In a statement issued Monday, Callistus Unyimadu, the Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations, confirmed the decision on behalf of NRC management.

“The Warri-Itakpe Train Service will resume on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Our valued passengers are advised that operations will run six days weekly, with Thursdays reserved for maintenance of track and rolling stock,” the statement read.

Behind the scenes, NRC engineers have reportedly been hard at work—resolving engine issues, enhancing safety protocols, and upgrading operational systems to restore trust in one of Nigeria’s most vital train routes.

Passengers who had requested refunds during the service suspension were fully reimbursed, while those who opted to wait it out can revalidate their tickets through NRC’s e-ticketing platform at no extra cost.

The service interruption wasn’t an isolated case. In February 2025, WITS came to a temporary halt over a separate technical fault, though it resumed within weeks. And back in July 2024, a derailment near Ujevwu in Delta State—thankfully with no reported injuries—led to a two-day shutdown.

The NRC says this new maintenance schedule is a game-changer.

“We understand the inconvenience caused by these disruptions,” said Dr. Kayode Opeifa, MD/CEO of NRC. “We’ve taken this time not just to fix the problems, but to build a more reliable system moving forward.”

With Thursday maintenance now baked into the weekly calendar, the NRC hopes to break the cycle of repeated technical hiccups that have plagued the route.

For thousands who rely on the Warri-Itakpe line for business, travel, and connection across states, this latest development may be more than just the return of a train—it’s the restart of a dependable lifeline.