Blue Line Rail Commercial Operations Begin Today – LAMATA

The Lagos State Government says it will begin passenger operations on the Blue Line Rail today.
The Managing Director, Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, made this known on Wednesday at Marina, during a press briefing and test running of the train with newsmen.
Akinajo said with feasibility study, the train system would be conveying 175,000 passengers on daily basis.
She said though the commercial operations would have begun in the first quarter of 2023, it was delayed to ensure that all modalities were in place.
“As you know, the first phase of the blue line was commissioned, the infrastructure completion was commissioned by Mr President (Former President, Muhammadu Buhari) in December.
“At the time, we had said to you we would start operations in March. Unfortunately, we did not, by the end of the first quarter, then it was by the end of the second quarter. Unfortunately, we had hiccups with power delivery.
“We are here to say that we are completely ready in terms of all operational infrastructure. The reason that we have been delayed is due to the fact that our power provision was delayed.
“So, we are here to say that we are going to start commercial operations in all of the time that we had completed the civil infrastructure.
According to her, LAMATA had constantly been carrying passengers because it was testing to ensure that the interface between the infrastructure and all of the works that had been done was sinking excellently well.
She said the operation of the rail was going to be the very first real operation to run by electric power, hence, LAMATA was being meticulous on all aspects of the operations.
“So, from that perspective, we have been very meticulous in ensuring that all the issues are dealt with, including the provision of the power, health and safety, operational modalities, to ensure the safety of all of our passengers”, the MD said.
She said today, commercial operations would begin by 9.00 a.m., with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State as the first passenger.
Akinajo said after today, the rail operations would begin by 6.30 a.m till 10.00 p.m on daily basis.
The LAMATA boss continued that the train service, which would run from Mile 2 to Marina, would run 12 trips on daily basis for a period of two weeks, and the service would gradually increase.
“We will be stopping at every station. So, this is a terminal station, Mile 2 is a terminal station.
“At Marina and Mile 2, the trains will be stopping for no more than five minutes. This is a metro service. So this is not one that you can be wandering to come on.