• Governor Sanwo-Olu is first passenger…Red Line for commissioning this year 
• Announces 50 per cent reduction in train fares
• Passengers are only allowed to get on the train with the Cowry Card or the LASSRA Identification Card

Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State led hundreds of Lagosians, consisting of members of the public, the media, and other sectoral stakeholders to herald the commencement of commercial passenger operations of the first phase of the Lagos Blue Line rail services on Monday, September 4, 2023, with a train ride from the iconic Marina train station to the Mile 2 terminal station. 

The Lagos Blue Line is one of the six identified Rail routes in the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Masterplan designed to alleviate challenges of mass transit across the city of Lagos.  

It would be recalled that the electricity powered high-speed metro train system was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari on January 24, 2022, while the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), through its Managing Director, Engineer Abimbola Akinajo, had announced the much-awaited take-off of passenger operations at a press conference on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. 

The Governor, who attended the milestone occasion along with the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; the First Lady, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and other dignitaries in the State expressed excitement over the commencement of the Blue Line rail saying, “It’s been a wonderful experience personally for me this morning, and for almost all the 500 passengers”. 

Governor Sanwo-Olu assured Lagosians of maximum security, safety, and convenience on the train. “As you can see, the whole place is well secured. There are men of the Nigerian Police, there are Neighourhood Watch. And they also have private security operatives that are all there.

The stations are clean, and we are all good to go. With your Cowry Card you are good to go. So, let’s go out there and get our Cowry Card and top it up so we can enjoy integrated urban mass transportation system that we have talked about”, he urged Lagosians. 

Passengers are only allowed to get on the train with the Cowry Card or the LASSRA Identification Card. The Governor further announced a reduction in the fare on the train to N375 from the actual N750 fare for a complete trip along the first phase.

This is with respect to the 50 percent discount subsidy palliative from the Lagos State Government to ease the burden of rising cost of living on Lagos residents.  

The Governor also charged Lagosians to be safety conscious and conduct themselves with utmost care around the infrastructure, noting that the train tracks are electrified and therefore should not be crossed for any reason, neither for buying nor selling purposes. 

Governor Sanwo-Olu took the opportunity to provide update to Lagosians on the first phase of the Red Line, another route of the LRMT running from Agbado to Oyingbo. “The Red Line is about 95 percent ready, and when it gets to 100 percent, we will commission it. We are certain that before the end of the year, we will commission the Red Line”, he said. 

“By the end of this month we will start commissioning the bridges: Ikeja-Along Bridge, Oyingbo Bridge, Yaba Bridge, Mushin Bridge, Ayoola-Coker Bridge. We will start opening the bridges for vehicular movement”, he disclosed.  

Three trains are available for the Blue Line operations now, with each having a capacity to move 1,000 passengers per trip and an estimated combined total of 150,000 passengers daily.  

Daily services on the first phase of the Blue Line will start from 6:30 am for the Mile-2 to Marina trip, and 7:03 am for the return. With stops at the Alaba, Iganmu, and National Theatre stations, the 13-km stretch takes less than 30 minutes on the Lagos Blue Line.  

Lagos Rail Mass Transit is a rapid transit system in Lagos State. The rail system is managed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director, Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo, at the commencement of the test running in Lagos on Monday from Marina to Mile 2.

Akinajo said that the exercise would last between 2 to 3 months, to enable Lagos residents to enjoy the free ride before the full rail operation begins in April.

Test-run involves a free train ride 3 times a week over the next 2 months

The LAMATA boss said the testing would be carried out three times a week over the next two months.

She said, “The test run is open for Lagosians from all walks of life to board the train and have a feel of its comfort.

“Market men and women, artisans, students, members of the media, and other professionals are being invited to enjoy the free train ride.”

“Any Nigerian who wishes to join the free train ride should send their email address to LAMATA to enable us to book them for the free ride within the week.’’

According to her, rail transport is not a direct bus system; there are a lot of things that are involved, including all these.

She said, “We must ensure we put them in top shape before we begin commercial operation.”

She said the authority expected feedback from all categories of people, such as traders, university students, and primary and secondary schools, during the test run before starting the commercial operation.

Train operations to run from 5.30 am to 11 pm daily
Akinajo said the automatic processing unit could process 250 passengers every minute, adding that the schedule called for a train to run every 3 minutes.

She said, “For the first phase, the Blue Light train will be able to carry between 200,000 and 250,000 passengers daily, based on the availability of rolling stock.”

”Right now, the government has purchased three rolling stocks, while another six may be purchased when the government completes the second phase.”

“Operations would run from 5.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.” The system is designed to run a train in three minutes.

”During rush hours, we will pull more trains, while during off-peak periods, we will pull off the operation.’’

She said that the government was still working on the template that would make the train affordable to the people, based on the current situation in the country.

The LAMATA boss stated that the fare had not been set by the government, but that when it was, the government would ensure that it reflected the current circumstances and was affordable and friendly to residents.