The Lagos State’s Blue Line Railway will begin commercial operations on Monday, Sept. 4, according to the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director of LAMATA announced this at a Press briefing and test-running of the train at Marina on Wednesday.
Akinajo said the commercial operation of the transport system would have begun in the first quarter of the year.
“We delayed because we want to ensure all modalities are in place for hitch-free operation,” she said.
According to LAMATA boss, a feasibility study ahead of the facility showed that the train system will convey 175,000 passengers daily.
She recalled that former President, Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the first phase of the Blue Line project in December.
“At the time, we said we would start operations in March. Unfortunately, we had hiccups with power delivery.
“We are here to say that we are completely ready in terms of all operational infrastructure,” Akinajo said.
She said that the rail would run on electric power. “Hence, LAMATA is meticulous in all aspects of its operations”.
From that perspective, she said LAMATA is ensuring that all issues are sorted out, including provision of electric power, health and safety.
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“On Sept. 4, commercial operations will begin by 9.00 a.m., with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State as the first passenger.
Akinajo said that after Monday, the operations would begin from 6.30 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. daily. The train service would run 12 trips daily from Mile 2 to Marina for two weeks and would gradually increase.
“At Marina and Mile 2, the Metro Service trains will be stopping for interval of five minutes. When the train gets into a station, it will stop for 90 seconds. So, it is a scheduled service,” she said.
The Blue Line Rail service has five stations – Marina, National Theatre, Orile-Iganmu, Alaba and Mile 2. Akinajo urged passengers to get their cowry cards ready and top them up for the train service.
She emphasised that Cowry Card is the means of payment for the train service. After four weeks of operation, she said the train operations would increase from 12 to 30 trips.
The LAMATA boss urged passengers not to pass through the track for their safety, as the rail lines are electrified.
The train fare, she said, is N750 from Marina to Mile 2, N500 from Marina to National Theatre and N400 to Iganmu-Orile.
But as Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu introduced palliative in the transport sector, passengers would pay N375 from Mile 2 to Marina.
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