Nigeria
Trains in Nigeria: tickets, passes and routes
Use the train only on the few modern standard-gauge routes — Lagos–Ibadan (about 2.5 h) and Abuja–Kaduna (about 2 h) — and book ahead because seats sell out. There is no national rail pass; buy single tickets. Skip rail for cross-country trips and fly instead, and check current security advice before Abuja–Kaduna.
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GuideNigeria
Key facts
- Best routes
- Lagos–Ibadan (about 2.5 h); Abuja–Kaduna (about 2 h)
- Typical farecheck
- ₦6,000–20,000 per single journey (2026 estimate)
- Rail pass
- No national rail pass; buy single tickets per journey
- Booking window
- Book days ahead; seats sell out on the main routes
- Default between cities
- Domestic flight, about 1 h 10 min Lagos–Abuja
- Abuja–Kaduna security
- Line was attacked in 2022; check your government's advice before travel
- Currency
- Naira (₦); carry cash for stations and kiosks
Details
Nigeria's rail network is a mix of old narrow-gauge lines and newer standard-gauge lines. Only the standard-gauge services are worth planning a trip around: the Lagos–Ibadan line in the south-west and the Abuja–Kaduna line in the centre-north. Both use modern trains with assigned seats and run a small number of departures a day, so the timetable, not the distance, decides your day.
Buying a ticket is the main friction. There is no national rail pass and no single booking site that covers every operator, so treat each journey as a separate purchase. Tickets are sold at station counters and, on some services, online; bring ID and pay in naira. Popular departures on weekends and around public holidays fill up, so book days ahead rather than turning up.
For everything else — Lagos to Abuja, Lagos to Port Harcourt, Abuja to Kano — the train is not a realistic option. Domestic flights cover those distances in about an hour and are the default for a reason. If you want to see the country by rail, build the trip around one or two train legs and fly the rest.
Security is the deciding factor on the northern line. The Abuja–Kaduna service was attacked in 2022, and advice can change with the security situation. Check your government's travel advice and the operator's own notices before you commit, and avoid night arrivals at either end.
- Book days ahead on Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna; weekend seats go first.
- Carry your passport or a photo ID for ticket checks.
- Arrive at the station early; security screening at the entrance takes time.
- Keep cash for taxis and kiosks — card readers at stations are unreliable.
- Do not plan a tight connection to an international flight on the same day.
| Route | Time | Fare (2026 estimate) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos–Ibadan | About 2.5 h | ₦6,000–20,000 | Worth it; book ahead |
| Abuja–Kaduna | About 2 h | ₦6,000–20,000 | Check security advice first |
| Lagos–Abuja | — | — | Fly instead, about 1 h 10 min |
| Cross-country routes | — | — | Not practical; fly or use a reputable bus in daylight |
Fares and timetables change; confirm at the station or with the operator (check).
Tips
Pair a train leg with a city stay rather than treating rail as transport across the whole country. Lagos–Ibadan works well as a day trip or an overnight in Ibadan, and Abuja–Kaduna only if the security picture is calm when you travel.
Ask your hotel or host to help with the ticket purchase if the online system will not accept a foreign card. Local help is faster than fighting a payment page, and it also confirms whether the service is running that week.
For the rest of your transport, see the country guide's getting-around notes: flights between cities, vetted drivers in Lagos, and ride-hailing for short trips. Rail is a small, useful slice of that picture, not the backbone.
- Check the operator's notice board or social page the day before travel.
- Travel in daylight where you can.
- Keep a buffer day before any international departure.
Questions people ask
Is the train a good way to get around Nigeria?
Only on a few routes. Lagos–Ibadan (about 2.5 h) and Abuja–Kaduna (about 2 h) are the modern standard-gauge lines worth using. For Lagos–Abuja and other long trips, fly — about 1 h 10 min — and check security advice before the northern line.
Do I need a rail pass for Nigeria?
No. There is no national rail pass. Buy a single ticket for each journey, at the station counter or online where the operator sells them, and pay in naira. Bring ID.
How far in advance should I book trains in Nigeria?
Days ahead. Departures are few and seats sell out, especially at weekends and around public holidays. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, and confirm the service is running the day before you travel.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check