By Adeyinka Aderibigbe
Commercial operations may commence on the Phase One of the Lagos State Blue Line train, which is the flagship of the Lagos State intra-city rail service under the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) on September 5, 2023, The Nation can exclusively report.
A top government source who gave the hint on the pledge of anonymity yesterday, said the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Managing Director Engr (Mrs) Abimbola Akinajo, is expected to formally announce this novel take-off on Wednesday, (today), at the Marina Interchange Train Station (MITS).
The first phase of the Blue Line, a 13 kilometres elevated rail network stretching from Marina to Mile 2, with five stations at Marina, National Theatre, Iganmu, Alaba, and Orile Stations.
The train would take 15 minutes between Marina to Mile 2, a journey which takes over an hour by road.
The Blue Line train is to be powered by electricity; making Lagos State, the first sub-national to own the first Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train not only in Nigeria, but in the West African sub-region.
Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on December 23, 2022, announced the completion of the first phase of the Blue Line project, commenced in 2006 by the then Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (now President of Nigeria). The project was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari, on January 24, 2023, who also witnessed the signing of the contract for the second phase, a 14 kilometre stretch from Mile 2 – Okokomaiko, completing a total of 27 kilometres proposed by the Lagos State Government.
LAMATA had flagged off test drive on the corridor in February this year, which ran till May, but arrangement for immediate commencement of commercial operation was put on hold to allow LAMATA to ramp up on all issues that would aid seamless operation of the train service.
At a forum with captains of industries and high net worth investors in June, LAMATA had announced that commercial operation would begin on the Blue Line corridor by August end.
It also hinted that it will commence test drive on the Red Line (Oyingbo – Agbado) the same day, signaling the end of construction on the second light rail system, which would also, eventually herald the commercial operation on the line.
Akinajo, the LAMATA Chief, had while giving the specifics said the train service would cater to 250,000 passengers per day, while when the second phase is completed, would account for 1.5 million passengers per day on Marina – Mile 2 – Badagry corridor, noted for its huge volume.
The train has two interchange stations at Marina and Mile 2, which is meant to promote integration of the intermodal system of transportation which would synchronise the BRT and road transport with the rail and waterway transportation.
Akinajo had also indicated that to promote the cashless policy of the government, the Cowry Card, which was launched by the government in 2019, would be deployed for passengers’ use on the train.
Akinajo warned members of the public to stay away from the train tracks to avoid electrocution.