The just-concluded 2nd International Railway Conference and Expo ended on a high note as De-Sadel Consortium unveiled its ambitious High-Speed Bullet Train Project, a visionary initiative poised to revolutionize rail transportation in Nigeria.
The presentation of De-Sadel’s proposed ultra-modern bullet train network was a major highlight at the two-day conference. The project will feature trains capable of running at speeds of up to 320 km/h.
The first Phase Network is designed to connect major cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kano, drastically cutting travel times, easing the movement of people and goods, boosting regional trade, and opening up massive economic opportunities.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of De-Sadel Consortium, Mr. Samuel Uko, the project will also create millions of direct and indirect jobs, attract foreign investment, and support the government’s push for sustainable infrastructure development.
With a simple business analysis based on a conservative estimate that just 5% of Nigeria’s over 220 million population could make 10 round-trip in a year at $100, De-Sadel projects an impressive $10 billion in annual revenue. Considering the 50-year lifespan of high-speed rail infrastructure, the initiative presents an attractive return on investment for foreign partners.
A key factor making Nigeria suitable for this project is its rich gas reserves. De-Sadel plans to build its own 8,000-megawatt gas power plant as part of the project, using about 2,000 megawatts to run the trains while adding the excess power to the national grid.
This approach, the company says, will enable the trains to effectively run at no cost while still generating revenue for the government, a win-win for all stakeholders.
When completed, the surface high-speed train project is expected to open up new industrial cities and super shopping malls along the major routes.
Describing the project as a legacy in the making, De-Sadel’s Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Uko, said the proposed high-speed train would become the third largest in the world upon completion. He called on Nigerians and international investors to embrace the vision and be part of this transformative journey.
THE BULLET TRAIN FEATURES.
