Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support towards the expansion of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line.
This comes as the state unveiled three new sets of train coaches to enhance commuter experience.
The new coaches, Imported from China through a collaboration between the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), were officially launched on at the National Arts Theatre Station, marking a significant milestone in Lagos’ transportation development.
Each train set comprises four cars, adhering to the Blue Line’s operational.
Speaking to the journalists after the unveiling, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that the additional coaches would increase the Blue Line’s capacity, promising faster journeys and more frequent services for Lagosians.
He noted that the support from President Tinubu has been instrumental, particularly in light of the subsidy removal, empowering sub-national governments to implement innovative transport solutions aimed at mitigating the rising cost of living.
Governor Sanwo said “The funding and expansion of the Blue Line capacity represent a bold initiative made possible by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision. About a year and a half ago, the President recognized and supported sub-national efforts under his Renewed Hope Agenda.”
President’s support
He said that the President’s financial backing for procuring the additional rolling stock is a testament to the agenda’s success, especially in Lagos.
With the new coaches, the Governor said the Blue Line’s operational efficiency will improve significantly, enabling a reduction in journey times and increasing train frequency to potentially every ten minutes — a vital improvement for urban transit.
On the travel time Sanwo-Olu said “Journeys that previously took about 20 minutes could now be completed in half that time. The doubling of capacity ensures a more predictable, reliable, and comfortable travel experience.”
Upgrading Red line
The Governor revealed plans for an equivalent upgrade to the Red Line, which connects Agbado in Ogun State to Ebute Metta in Lagos Mainland. The Red Line coaches will be larger to accommodate higher passenger volumes.
On the progress of the Blue Line’s second phase, extending from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, Sanwo-Olu confirmed that construction is advancing steadily, with stations and tracks taking shape, underscoring rail transport’s growing permanence in Lagos’ commuter infrastructure.
The Lagos Blue Line, inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari on January 23, 2023, officially commenced passenger services on September 4, 2023.
In just over a year, it has transported more than two million passengers, with trip frequencies increased from 54 to 72 daily as of August 2024, reducing travel times between Marina and Mile 2 from approximately 30 to 18 minutes.
Lateefah Ibrahim