Red Line: Lagos to begin commercial operations 3rd quarter, 2024

 

-Says 20 trips to run per day as test running  will last 6 weeks

 

IBRAHIM QUADRI

 

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced that the trial runs for the Red Line Rail project has commenced on Tuesday.

 

The test running which is in the morning and afternoon is expected to take 4-6 weeks to be done.

 

However, passenger operations are expected to start by the last quarter of the year, with 20 trips per day.

 

Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on X.

 

Daily Champion had exclusively reported on Monday that the commercial operation of the Lagos Mass Transit Rail, the Red Line, would commence as soon as things needed are put in place.

 

The Public Relations Officer, LAMATA, Mr Kola Ojelabi stated this in an interview with our correspondent, noting that it was infrastructure that was commissioned by the President and not operation.

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had commissioned the Red Line Rail Project in Lagos on February 29, 2024.

 

The project, an intra-state rail service which spans 37 kilometres is aimed at improving transportation within the city,

 

While inaugurating the project, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment in improving on the nation’s infrastructural development.

 

The Red Line will share the right-of-way with the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway. The route will run from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in Lagos, with notable stations including Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.

 

But concerns arose since the inauguration in late February by the Pressident, commuters had been worried over the delay.

 

However, Ojelabi explained, “We can only say it ought to have commenced commercial operation if we had announced a date but we have not done that.

 

“By the time it is ready to commence operation, we will definitely announce it and you will get the message.”

 

When asked what was responsible for the delay, Ojelabi said, “What we have done is to launch the infrastructure but infrastructure is different from operation.

 

“There are a lot of things to be put in place before operation starts and so we are putting those things in place. There are issues that we have to deal with and we are dealing with them.”

 

Giving an update, Gawat noted, “1st trip; In the Morning, the train will move from Oyingbo Station (Ebute Metta) by 8:30am to arrive at Agbado Station by 9:37am.

 

“2nd trip: from Agbado, the train will move by 10:30am back to Oyingbo 11:37am.

 

“3rd trip starts by 12:40 from Oyingbo Station to Agbado Station by 13:47.

 

“Final trip to leave Agbado by 14:50 back to Oyingbo Station 15:50.

 

“The trains will carry different groups of passengers for the testing period with the hope of getting feedback from their experience.

 

“Passenger Operations expected to start by the last quarter of the year, with 20 trips per day.”