Lagos Blue Rail Begins Commercial Operations Sept 4, Targets 175,000 Passengers Daily

Lagos State Government has said commercial operations of the Lagos Blue Line Rail would commence Monday next week.

The Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo, who disclosed this yesterday at the Marina terminal, Lagos added that the commercial operations of the first phase of the project would commence officially Monday morning by 9:00am, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the first passenger.

According to Akinajo, “The train would run 12 trips in two schedules for now – 6.30am to 10am (morning peak) and 4.30pm – 9pm (evening peak). 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.”

Akinajo explained that though the train is electric, it would run on a locomotive for the first four weeks of operation to allow the electric system to come up fully and sync properly with the physical infrastructure.

It is also to allow passengers to get familiar with the system.

She also warned against eating and drinking on the train, adding that criminals would also be arrested and handed over to the police as there are about 30 cameras along the tracks.

Akinajo said the train does not have any section of important personalities, saying there is free sitting arrangement for everyone.

The commencement date for the rail line has been shifted several times and Lagosians have been eager to see the commercial flag off of the rail line, especially as they grapple with high transportation fares occasioned by the recent removal of subsidy on petrol, which shot the pump price to N600 and above per litre.

The rail line project was started by the former administration of Babatunde Fashola more than 12 years ago. But the first phase – 13km (Marina to Mile 2) on the Lagos-Badagry corridor is being completed by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

Nigeria’s ex-President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the first phase of the 27km (Marina-Okomaiko) Blue Line rail on January 24, 2023.