…to begin with 12 trips daily, covering Marina to Mile 2
Lagos residents, traders and visitors will heave a sigh of relief as the Blue Line Rail being constructed by the Lagos State government, is set to start commercial operations with 12 trips per day beginning from the first of September, 2023.
Abimbola Akinajo, managing director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), who announced this on Wednesday, said the train service would cover 13 kilometres of the first phase- Marina to Mile 2 on the Lagos-Badagry corridor.
Akinajo, at a press briefing at the Marina station of the rail line, noted that while they initially aimed to commence operations by the end of the first quarter, delays arose due to contingencies and necessary preparations.
“We couldn’t begin operations as intended by the end of the first quarter due to unexpected issues. Although we promised an August launch, we faced challenges in meeting that timeline,” Akinajo said
She emphasised the meticulous testing of interfaces, ensuring commuter safety, and verifying the reliability of power and intermodal systems.
The official commencement of commercial operations is scheduled for the first week of September.
The inaugural train will depart at 9 am, carrying the governor and other passengers, marking the beginning of commercial services.
Abimbola noted that each terminal’s train will have a maximum stop time of 90 seconds, maintaining a strict schedule.
The service will operate both in the morning and evening phases, with ongoing tests during the day to ensure the trains are in proper condition.
The metro service will adhere to a fixed timetable, available at all stations and on the LAMATA website.
“It’s a metro service, we will be working to the timetable and will be available at every station and LAMATA website.
“The train at every terminal will stop at nothing less than 90 seconds. It’s a scheduled service,” Akinajo said.
Abimbola noted that in the first 4 weeks of operations, the Blue Rail Line will offer a limited number of 12 trips, covering the route from Marina to each terminal.
Afterwards, the Blue Rail Line will increase the frequency of trips.
For the first few weeks of operations , locomotives will be used to power the trains, before transitioning to a fully electrified system but the tracks are all electrified.
Safety measures include cameras at every station, patrolling officers, body scanners, and metro police presence to prevent vandalism and ensure passenger safety.
Trip to cost N750
The MD of LAMATA revealed that the Blue Line rail system is set to kick-off operations on September 4, 2023, with a trip cost of N750.
She announced this at a media briefing held at the Marina terminal.
Akinajo noted that the government’s 50 percent fare reduction, applicable to all government-owned transportation, will also be extended to the Blue rail line.
The railway system was commissioned in January 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, however, without official commencement of commercial operations.
Despite initial plans to commence operations by the end of the first quarter of 2023, the launch experienced delays.
We couldn’t begin operations as intended by the end of the first quarter due to unexpected issues. Although we promised an August launch, we faced challenges in meeting that timeline,” Akinajo said
The service will operate in both morning and evening phases, with continuous assessments throughout the day to ensure the trains maintain proper working conditions.
She emphasised the meticulous testing of interfaces, ensuring commuter safety, and verifying the reliability of power and intermodal systems.
Operating hours for the train stations will span between 6:30am and 10:30pm.
Akinajo said that the metro service will strictly adhere to a fixed timetable, which will be accessible at all stations and on the LAMATA website.
“The metro service will adhere to a fixed timetable, available at all stations and on the LAMATA website,” Akinajo said.
Akinajo also noted the prohibition of food and drinks onboard.
The Blue Line project is a 27-kilometre rail route designed to run from Okokomaiko eastwards to Mile 2 and then proceed to Marina via Ijora. However, only the phase one covering 13km, Marina to Mile-2 is ready with five stations.
The stations are at Marina, National Theatre, Orile Iganmu, Suru-Alaba, and Mile 2, while phase two upon completion, will extend the line 27km to Okokomaiko in Ojo.
