By DIANA OLUWOLE

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The train station, once a beacon of hope for seamless and affordable travel, has become a source of frustration for passengers. Despite the government’s efforts to improve railway services and ease movement, unethical practices by some workers have turned the system into a profiteering scheme that leaves genuine travellers stranded.

A growing number of passengers have reported an alarming trend where railway workers exploit the online booking system for personal gain. These workers use multiple National Identification Numbers (NINs) to book all available seats as early as midnight, making it impossible for ordinary travellers to secure tickets. By morning, the system falsely indicates that all seats have been sold, forcing desperate passengers to buy tickets at the station for inflated prices – sometimes double the official rate.

Mrs. Roselyn Ayomike, a distressed passenger, described her ordeal while trying to book a ticket from Ujevwu train station to Uromi for her son’s visiting day. She lamented how online booking is often impossible, leaving her no choice but to purchase tickets at the station at exorbitant rates. Another traveller, who prefers to remain anonymous, expressed similar frustrations, revealing how tickets bought from vendors at the station often do not even bear the passenger’s name.

Beyond the issue of ticket racketeering, passengers are also grappling with the deteriorating state of train services. Peter, a frequent traveller, called on the federal government to increase the number of trains, pointing out that existing ones frequently develop faults, leading to delays and overcrowding. He described how passengers are sometimes forced to stand for hours when coaches are removed due to technical issues, making train travel an exhausting experience.

The situation at the train station underscores the urgent need for better oversight and management of railway services. Investigating and prosecuting those involved in fraudulent bookings is crucial to restoring fairness to the system. A more transparent and efficient online booking system must be implemented to prevent manipulation, ensuring that tickets are available to genuine passengers.

“Additionally, the government must expand the number of trains in operation to ease congestion and reduce delays caused by faulty coaches. Equally important is improving staff training and management to enhance service delivery and eliminate corrupt practices,” Mrs. Ayomike added. (Delta State News Bulletin)