The Lagos State Government has announced that the first phase of the Blue Rail Line will commence commercial operation on Monday, September 4, 2023.
In a statement titled, ‘Lagos to commence blue rail line operation on Monday’, the state government said the commencement of the Blue Rail Line operation will be followed by other activities that will sustain the transport initiative.
The managing director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Mrs Abimbola Akinajo made this known at the marina train station.
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According to the LAMATA MD, the first train ride will kick off by 9. a.m. with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on board, along with other passengers, which is from Marina to Mile 2 train station.
Lagosians have eagerly anticipated the kickoff of the Blue Rail Line since it was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari on January 24, 2023.
The commissioning of the project included the signing of paperwork for the commencement of Phase 2 of the project, which covers from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko. The event was also witnessed by Buhari.
As a segment of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit, the Blue rail line will stretch over a distance of 27.5 km, connecting Marina to Okokomaiko. It will feature 13 stations and facilitate an end-to-end travel time of 35 minutes. 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.
The complete Blue Line system will operate on a dedicated and secure pathway, entirely separated from road traffic and pedestrians, eliminating both level crossings and unregulated entry points.
In February 2023, the state government initiated a 2-month trial run of the 13-kilometer Lagos Blue Line train service.
The statement quoted the LAMATA MD explaining how the operations will unfold.
Mrs Akinajo explains that for the first four weeks, the rain will run only twelve trips with the locomotive system. After one month LAMATA will commence electric-powered train operation with 76 trips, also with estimated passengers between 150,000 and 175,000, from 5.30 am to 11 pm daily. And the train will only stop for 90 seconds at each station.
According to her, the transport palliative announced by Governor Sanwo-Olu will also reflect on train transportation. She said it would cost N750 per trip.
The LAMATA MD appeals to residents of Lagos not to cross the rail tracks because it is energized. Anyone found carrying out illegal activities across the five train stations will be prosecuted.
The first phase of the Blue Rail Line (from Marina to Mile 2) was scheduled to begin operation by the end of the first quarter of 2023, but it experienced delays. The delays have left many who see the project as a reprieve from their hectic daily commuting to the island disappointed.
“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 explained.