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Lagos Blue Rail Line will begin full commercial operations on September 4, Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, has said.
Akinajo said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will take the inaugural ride by 9am on September 4 before other passengers begin to ride.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the rail line in January and it has since been on test run.
Here are 20 things to know about the blue rail line:
1. The train network was proposed in 1983 during the Lateef Jakande administration and was flagged off in 2003 during the administration of an ex-governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, 20 years later.
2. The construction was undertaken by LAMATA and executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation.
3. The State Government said the first phase will transport 250,000 passengers daily and when completed, the entire 27km will transport about 500,000 passengers daily.
4. The first phase (Marina -Mile 2) has five stations – Marina, National Theatre, Iganmu, Alaba and Orile station.
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5. Travel time: According to Sanwo-Olu, it will take “just less than 15 minutes” from Marina to Mile 2, for a journey that usually takes an hour or more.
6. Fare: A full Journey from Marina to Mile 2 will cost N750, Zonal fares will be between N400 and N500 (for people not making the complete full trip).
7. Danger: According to the Daily Trust newspaper, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, warned residents of the state not to trespass on the rail line because “it is electrified” and advised them to make use of pedestrian bridges to avoid being electrocuted.
8. Trial and public use: It will be operational in late March or the first week in April at most, Mr Ojelabi said. Before it becomes operational, “select members of the public” will be invited to “come and experience how to use it.”
9. Access: Once it becomes operational, riders will be able to use the cowry card to access the train.
10. Power: The train will run on an independent power supply – Electric Multiple Unit (EMU).
11. According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the Blue Rail Line will be powered by its own electricity through a dedicated Independent Power Project (IPP) and about four power sources to avoid power outages.
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12. Over 30 Cameras monitoring the tracks alone, and Command and control centers are available in all Stations.
13. Plain cloth security agents and officers of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps will ride with passengers at all times.
14. Any form of altercation or conflict on the train will not be tolerated.
15. The Blue rail line commercial operations will start with 12 trips per day.
16. The trains will run 76 trips, from 5:30a.m to 11p.m, when it becomes fully operational in four weeks.
17. The train would run in two schedules for now – 6:30a.m to 10a.m (morning peak) and 4:30p.m – 9p.m (evening peak).
18. The train will stop for 90 seconds at each station.
19. The 50% discount announced by Sanwo-Olu on all Lagos public transportation rides also applies to the blue rail line.
20. The Blue Rail Line will full operations on September 4, 2023.
THE NATION
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