The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday took delivery of two double-end-drivers’-cabin standard gauge locomotive engines from the Peoples Republic of China.
The minister, who was represented by the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okhiria, said that 10 more locomotives were expected to arrive the country by September.
Okhiria was on hand to take delivery of the two locomotives, which were discharged at the ENL Terminal of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC).
The Managing Director said that the two locomotives were part of 20 locomotive engines expected to arrive the country for the commencement of standard gauge rail operations in Nigeria.
“This two locomotives are specifically designed for passenger train movement.
“The locomotives have inbuilt power supply and this is unprecedented.
“It is designed for 150km per hour rail services and it is a double-end drivers’ cabin.
“What this means is that on both ends of the locomotive, there is a driver’s cabin. What we used to have is a locomotive with only one driver’s cabin on one side,’’ he said.
According to him: “10 locomotives that we ordered in April, the company manufacturing them has asked that we come for a factory acceptance test.’’
Okhiria said that hopefully, the 10 coaches would arrive the country by September. (NAN)
