Sanwo-Olu boards first ride as Lagos Blue Line rail commences commercial operations

Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday took the first ride as the Lagos Blue Line rail commenced commercial operations. 

The Governor took the ride from the Marina station to Mile 2 around 9:00 a.m. Before he boarded the train, Sanwo-Olu explained to his co-passengers the requirements to board the train.

Sanwo-Olu was accompanied by his wife Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Secretary to the State Government Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro; an ex-Speaker of the House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro among other government officials.

According to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), for the first month, the train would run only 12 trips with the locomotive system.

LAMATA Managing Director Abimbola Akinajo noted, however, that the agency will begin the electric-powered train operation with 76 trips. An estimated passenger capacity between 150,000 and 175,000 are expected to take rides from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

With the flag-off passenger operations of the blue line today, commuting has been made easy, affordable and fast for Lagosians.

Earlier, the governor had asked Lagosians to take ownership of the rail tracks even as his government has put measures to protect the facility.

“There are over 300 CCTV cameras across the entire rail with over 30 cameras monitoring the tracks alone, with command and control centers available in all stations along the track. Lagos, this is your project,” he added.

“Take ownership and treat it with decency as you would treat anything that belongs to you. Any altercation or disturbance on the train will NOT be tolerated. It goes without saying that vandalism also will NOT be tolerated.”

Here are 20 important information about the Lagos Blue Line rail as operations begin:

1. The train network was proposed in 1983 during the Lateef Jakande administration and was flagged off in 2004 during the administration of an ex-governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, 20 years later.
2. The construction was undertaken by LAMATA and executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation.
3. The State Government said the first phase will transport 250,000 passengers daily and when completed, the entire 27km will transport about 500,000 passengers daily.
4. The first phase (Marina -Mile 2) has five stations – Marina, National Theatre, Iganmu, Alaba and Orile station.
5. Travel time: According to Sanwo-Olu, it will take “just less than 15 minutes” from Marina to Mile 2, for a journey that usually takes an hour or more.
6. Fare: A full Journey from Marina to Mile 2 will cost N750, Zonal fares will be between N400 and N500 (for people not making the complete full trip).
7. Danger: According to the Daily Trust newspaper, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, warned residents of the state not to trespass on the rail line because “it is electrified” and advised them to make use of pedestrian bridges to avoid being electrocuted.
8. Trial and public use: It will be operational in late March or the first week in April at most, Mr Ojelabi said. Before it becomes operational, “select members of the public” will be invited to “come and experience how to use it.”
9. Access: Once it becomes operational, riders will be able to use the cowry card to access the train.
10. Power: The train will run on an independent power supply – Electric Multiple Unit (EMU).
11. According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the Blue Rail Line will be powered by its own electricity through a dedicated Independent Power Project (IPP) and about four power sources to avoid power outages.
12. Over 30 Cameras monitoring the tracks alone, and Command and control centers are available in all Stations.
13. Plain cloth security agents and officers of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps will ride with passengers at all times
14. Any form of altercation or conflict on the train will not be tolerated.
15. The Blue rail line commercial operations will start with 12 trips per day
16. The trains will run 76 trips, from 5:30a.m to 11p.m, when it becomes fully operational in four weeks.
17. The train would run in two schedules for now – 6:30a.m to 10a.m (morning peak) and 4:30p.m – 9p.m (evening peak)
18. The train will stop for 90 seconds at each station.
19. The 50% discount announced by Sanwo-Olu on all Lagos public transportation rides also applies to the blue rail line.
20. The Blue Rail Line will full operations on September 4, 2023