The Lagos rail transit system is a mass rail system currently being constructed in Lagos state, Nigeria.
The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), is managing the rail system. LAMATA is the state’s agency responsible for coordinating transport, planning policies, and public transport implementation.
The initial plan was to complete 7 railway systems but during the official kickoff of the project in 2008, the focus was placed on only two: The Blue and Red line rail systems.
Construction of both the blue and red line railway systems cost an estimated $1.17 billion.
The Lagos Blue Line Railway system
Per Business day, The Blue Line Railway project was awarded through an international competitive bid and was won by China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).
Construction of the blue line was initially proposed to be completed by 2011 but has suffered delays due to a lack of funds, mismanagement, and change in the state government over the years.
The construction of the blue line system is divided into 2 Phases:
- Phase one plying from Mile 2 to Marina
- Phase two plying from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko
Construction of structural figures for phase 1 was said to be completed in 2020, and the rail system is said to be scheduled for test travel in December, this year.
The blue line rail system is said to be operated on Electric Motor Units (EMUs), which simply means that it will depend on electricity as its source of energy, and is expected to have 13 Stations that will transverse from Mile 2 to Marina.
Lagos Red Line Railway system
The Red line rail system is said to be a 37-kilometer-long rail project compared to the 27.5km Blue line rail system.
The redline rail system is said to use the existing Nigeria Railway Corporation corridor, constructed through a concession arrangement.
It will be powered by Automative Gas Oil (AGO) and the redline system is expected to have 8 train stations from Agbado to Oyingbo in the first phase while terminating at Iddo in the second phase
Per a tweet from LAMATA’s official Twitter account, 21 cars of 2 train sets intended for the Red line rail system arrived in Nigeria from Milwaukee.
The current stage of development
In May, the governor of Lagos state stated that phase 1 of the blue line system was 90% ready and would be ready for transportation in the first quarter of 2023.
During the governor’s inspection of the train site, he stated:
“As we have seen, all the stations inspected are at the roof level, moving into the completion stage. The civil work has been completed; it’s just the finishing job we are doing at the moment. All the activities are on schedule and we are hoping for the best and that the entire project will be completed by the end of the year.”
“The Marina Station, which is the iconic terminal for the Blue Line, will be completed within two-and-half months. I am restating here that we will formally complete this Blue Line before Dec. 31, 2022.” he added.
The blueline system is expected to run a test trip this December, per a statement made by the state’s governor.
The train system will play a huge role in reducing the amount of traffic per journey by hours, attracting more economical benefits to the state, and creating job opportunities for residents of the state.
