Few weeks after it’s commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari,on January 24 ,2023,the trail blazing Lagos Blue Line rail mass transit rolled out it’s stock Wednesday for an enlightenment test run by the Lagos Metropolitan Authority,LAMATA on the 13 kilometre first phase from Marina to Mile 2.
L-R Mr. Charles Okogene, Newdawn reporter, Omolara Akintoye (middle) Correspondent and a LASTMA official
The test run involves about three hundred and fifty select media men and stakeholders who were taking on an all round trip from it’s Marina base to Mile 2 the terminus of the first phase.
Between 10:48 and 11:48 am the stakeholders enjoyed a hitch free ride inside the new coaches which sits passengers comfortably as obtained in Europe and similar to the Lagos-Ibadan standard railway which was commissioned about two years ago.
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The Blue Line no doubt is a departure from the chaotic and rough ride inside the delapidated coaches of the Nigeria Railway Corporation which run similar mass transit service from Oyingbo to Agbado in Ogun state.
Inside you have a well furnished and air conditioned sitting area manned by Chinese personnel who for now appears to be in charge of rendering the rail until it is concessioned to a private sector operator.
Engineer Abimbola Akinojo, the Managing Director of the LAMATA led the ride and enlightenment of stakeholders present on how to use the rail system which payment was patterned on the Cowry card pre paid system already in use by the Bus Rapid Transport,BRT and Ferry services.
The thirty minute journey from Marina to Mile 2 aptly demonstrate the entry and disembarking mode on and off the modern and elegant coaches .
According to LAMATA,the Lagos Rail Mass Transit,LRMT,is a life changing urban rail project designed to aid the transformation of Lagos and mobility of the people.
It consist of three stations already in operation Viz: Marina, National Theatre and Mile 2 which itself is unique as a hub for the integration of all transport modes as it is bordered by Mile 2 Ferry Terminal and garages for intra state commuting,inter- state passengers and international travels to the West African sub region such as Republic of Benin,Ghana,Togo among others.
On its own the Marina station supports the continuous growth of the Central Lagos Business District through improved transportation and expected to complement the vibrancy of the area with the creation of transport choices.
The station also provides quick access to the various markets on Lagos Island including Balogun,Idumota and scores of private and public institutions.
It also helps to link Victoria Island ,a hitherto residential area vastly turning into a commercial hub.
National Theatre station being an entertainment hub,it will provide commercial opportunities for food vendors,retailers and advertisers .
Volume of Passengers:
The two phases of the Blue Line is expected to carry 400,000 passengers per day when completed while the first phase already on stream from Marina to Mile 2 is expected to carry 200000 passengers daily on the 13 kilometre with a limit of 80km per hour.
It is a journey of twenty minutes and expected to arrive at each of the station with 3-5 minutes internal.
As disclosed earlier,the trains are to be deployed on Electric Multiple Units,EMU to be supplied by public power source,a purpose built Independent Power Project,IPP and a UPS system.
The second phase of the Blue Line which covers 14 kilometres is from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko with stations at Festac,Alakija,Trade Fair,Volkswagen, LASU and Okokomaiko.
To ensure good maintenance system,it would be concessioned to an operator who would sign a Service Level Agreement with the Lagos state government.
The Blue Line is the culmination of a dream started in 1981 by the first civilian government of the late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande but which contract was terminated by the then military regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari in 1984.
