He made this known on Monday in Abuja at the second edition of the Ministerial Platform.
"The process for the engagement of the private sector partners will soon commence,'' he added.
He identified Iddo Terminus, Ebute Metta Junction Station in Lagos, Illorin Station and Kaduna Junction Station, Kano Station, Port Harcourt Station, Enugu Station, Jos Station and Gombe Station as the major stations to be remodelled.
Umar said that an Outline Business Case had been concluded by the Nigerian Railway Corporation and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission regarding freight and passenger services.
He added that the OBC was awaiting approval for processing to the next stage.
"Subsequently, a transaction adviser is to be appointed after which investors will be invited to bid for concessioning of railways operations including procurement of rolling stocks on the following routes:
"Western line (Lagos to Kano), Narrow Gauge Line; Eastern Line (Port Harcour-Maiduguri), (Narrow Gauge line) and Kaduna-Kafanchan Link nearing completion.
"It is also proposed that upon completion of the standard gauge lines, they will be concessioned,'' the Minister said.
Umar said that the ministry had also commissioned consultants to conduct feasibility studies in respect of construction of new Standard Gauge Rail Lines in the country.
He said that the reports of the studies which would consist of OBC were to be made available to potential investors.
The minister said that the exercise would be followed by advertisement for expression of interest for the development of the lines under PPP arrangement.
The ministerial platform has the theme: "Nigeria: A Nation in Transformation'' and it will hold from June 3 to June 27.
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