One of the man's greatest achievement is the development of efficient transport system, The improved transport system has made life easier for people and goods to move from one place to another. In view of this, We will look at, Rail Way as a transport system.
Rail way as a mode of Transport, began in Nigeria in 1898. Earlier in 1825, the first commercial railway was commissioned in England where the train and railway were developed by George Stephenson, an engineer and inventor. Earlier, trains were moved or powered by steam, and coal was used as the fuel. Today, modern railway engines are powered by diesel oil, and some by electricity.
In Nigeria, the railway lines and trains were developed to help move goods from long distances to the ports, so that they could be shipped abroad. These trains are called goods trains.
Apart from moving goods, trains also move people. These trains are called passengers trains. Even within Lagos and its suburbs, people use the train to get to work in the city center. The first railway line in Nigeria was from Lagos to Ibadan in 1901, and it was extended as far as Jebba, covering another 486 kilometers. Another line linked Baro and Kano in 1911, while the tin mining activities in Jos made it important to have a line constructed between Zaria and Bukuru between 1912 and 1914.
The eastern part of the network started from Port-Harcourt in 1914, reaching Enugu two years later, then further north to Makurdi in 1924. When Kafanchan was connected with Kaduna junction in 1927, the occasion marked the first link of the east and west lines. Feeder lines (small branches of the large lines) were made as time went on. The last line was completed in 1965 and it was between Kuru and Maiduguri. Only recently, the Minister of Transport disclosed the proposed plan by the government to extend existing railway lines to cover more places in the country. The extended lines to cover more places in the country. The extended lines will cover the Delta area to Benin-City , then to Ajaokuta then to Oturkpo. A Kano to Katisna line is also proposed.
Transport by train is very useful for the development of Nigeria's economy. It helps in carrying bulky agricultural and other goods over long distances. The government is trying to improve train services by widening the existing rail gauge so that modern trains that are faster rail gauge so that are faster can be used.
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