Warns Lagosians to be careful when the electric train begins full operation
By Demilade Aderibigbe
Lagosians angling for a ride in the electric propelled metro train called the Blue Rail, may have to pay N750 for a trip between Marina to Mile 2, the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Managing Director Abimbola Akinajo said on Wednesday.
She disclosed this at a press conference which held at the Marina Interchange Station, while announcing the commencement of train service on Monday September 4.
She however said passengers would enjoy the ride at half the price in line with the directive of Mr Governor, who had ordered a 50 percent slash in the fare on all public sector operated transport modes.
Expectedly, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his guests and other members of the public would ride on the bus by 0900 hours.
Akinajo who took reporters on a guided ride and tour of the dedicated Independent Power Project (IPP) site for the project at Onikan said everything is ready and LAMATA is ready to commence commercial operation by August 31, in line with its earlier statement to the public, but conceded to the governor who had graciously accepted and given the Monday’s date as the auspicious date to take-off commercial operation.
Akinajo who was accompanied by LAMATA’s Director Rail Services, Engr Olasunkanmi Okusaga, and CCECC officials, described the feat as historic, as Lagos goes into history as the first state not only in Nigeria, but in West Africa to deliver an electric multiple unit (EMU), to the public.
Akinajo said full commercial operation will commence on Tuesday, during which the service would operate 12 trips and would be increased to 24, and thereafter to 48 and ultimately get to 76 trips per day. For the first two weeks however, the train would focus on the peak hours in the morning and at evening, beginning at 0630 to 1000 hours in the morning and between 1600 to 2100 hours in the evening.
When it begins full operation in about a month, it is expected to increase the shuttle to 24, and gradually increase until it gets to 76 train trips, running from 0530 hours in the morning to 2300 hours in the evening.
The train would continue to work until full integration of the energy and the rolling stock is attained and members of the public are adequately familiarized with the electric metro train system.
The LAMATA chief said the government will deploy three train sets to the corridor, adding that LAMATA has developed a time table that would ensure that it made 76 train shuttles daily, carrying between 150,000 to 175,000 passengers daily.
According to her, the train would only stop at each station for 90 seconds and anyone wishing to board the train would be expected to be at the platform by a minute before the train’s arrival, wait for others to disembark and board the train.
“We intend to commence operation with 12 train trips per day, and this we will run for two weeks, from the third week, it will be ramped up to 24 trips, and we shall continue to ramp up as demand peaks until we get to the ultimate, which is 76 trips.”
The LAMATA chief who said commercial operations would have commenced since March, blamed unforeseen circumstances at the ports for some of the power components causing the delay, adding however that LAMATA is committed to the September 4 date.
She said passengers on the train would be expected to have a Cowry Card, adding that LAMATA will not print paper tickets. She asked anyone who wished to board the train would have to buy the Cowry card and charge it with money. She added that the fare on the train is fixed at N750, for full trip, adding however, that in line with the Governor’s palliative directive for a 50 percent slash on all public transport systems tickets on the train would cost N350, until the directive is reversed.
Speaking on the operations, Akinajo said though the train would be powered by electricity, it will run on locomotive for the first two weeks of operation to allow for full integration and sync of the power infrastructure with the physical infrastructure. It is also to allow passengers to get familiar with the system.
Because the tracks will however remain energised, Akinajo urged passengers to resist crossing the tracks to avoid electrocution.
The train will also stop for 90 seconds at each station. It will run 76 trips, from 5.30am -11pm, when it becomes fully operational in four weeks. About 150,000-175,000 passengers are expected to board daily.
The full length of the trip (Marina – Mile 2) will cost N750. However, the 50 per cent discount announced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on all BRT rides also applies to the train ride because passengers can only access the service with their cowry cards.
Mrs. Akinajo also warned against eating and drinking on the train, and added that criminals will also be arrested and handed over to the police as there are about 30 cameras along the tracks.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had inaugurated the rail line in January, and it has since been on test run.
For security, she said LAMATA has fitted 300 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) with 30 at each of the five stations at Marina, National Theatre, Orile-Iganmu, Suru-Alaba and Mile 2, and along the train tracks to protect the infrastructure, all in the bid to ensure the safety of all passengers on the train.
Akinajo assured that body scanners have also been installed by the government to reinforce safety precaution.