Tinubu inaugurates Lagos Redline Rail system
By Aaron Elekwachi
On Thursday, the 29th of February 2024, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the 37-kilometer Red Line rail system in Lagos. Tinubu arrived punctually at 12:10 PM at the Ikeja Train Station for the official commissioning ceremony.
This train marks the initial phase of the project, slated to span from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in the heart of Lagos. Once fully operational, it is expected to run 37 trips daily and accommodate approximately 500,000 passengers.
The commissioning of this rail system signifies another significant advancement in the state's transportation infrastructure, adding to the existing Blue Line that runs from Marina to Mile 2 in its first phase.
The first phase of the Lagos Red Line Rail features eight stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.
This new rail system aims to drastically reduce travel time along the corridor, alleviate stress-related health issues, and enhance the economy's productivity. Additionally, it will mitigate traffic congestion, decrease road accidents, and ensure commuter safety.
As part of the integrated public transportation network, the Red Line connects with Bus Terminals at Ikeja, Oshodi, Oyingbo, Ikeja, Yaba, and Iju. To ensure commuter and resident safety, the rail corridor includes 10 vehicular overpasses and pedestrian bridges to separate train and vehicular traffic.
The construction of the first phase of the Red Line commenced on April 15, 2021, and was successfully completed within 30 months.
The Red Line will share tracks with the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s (NRC) Lagos to Ibadan route, thanks to a track-sharing agreement signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
During the inauguration event, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, acknowledged the crucial role played by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in mobilizing local funding for the project, supported by contributions from major local banks including United Bank for Africa, First Bank, and Zenith Bank.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also announced the acquisition of trains for the Red Line from the United States, along with additional rolling stock procured from the United Kingdom in 2023 and China recently.
Designed to significantly reduce travel time, the Red Line will allow passengers to cover the distance from Agbado to Oyingbo in just 40 minutes, compared to over two hours by road. The train’s capacity is designed to accommodate over 1,000 people per trip.
At full capacity, the Red Line is expected to transport 250,000 passengers daily, a number projected to increase to 750,000 once fully operational, with all additional rolling stock integrated into the system.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also highlighted the initiation of preliminary work on two additional lines within the LRMT system: the Green Line, extending 71.4 kilometers from Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, and the Purple Line, spanning 53.4 kilometers from Ojo to Mowe in Ogun State.
Looking ahead, plans are in place for the development of two more rail lines within the LRMT system: the Orange Line and the Yellow Line, signaling continued growth and expansion of Lagos’s rail infrastructure.
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