Lagos Blue Line Rail: Commercial operations to commence Monday — LASG

…Reels out operation guidelines, cautions against dangers

Lagos State Government (LASG) has detailed procedures of operations for the Lagos Blue Line Rail as it said on Wednesday that commercial operations would commence Monday next week.

The Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo, disclosed that commercial operations of the first phase of the project would commence officially Monday Morning, 9:00am, having Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the first passenger.

The LAMATA Boss while reeling out the terms of operation at the Marina Terminal on Wednesday said the system aims to convey between 150,000 – 175,000 passengers daily.

According to her, the maximum price obtainable for a trip from Marina enroute Mile – 2 would be N750, mentioning that with the subsisting palliative declared by Governor Sanwo-Olu on 50 percent slash in government enabled public transportation, commuters would pay a maximum of N375 while the palliative subsists.

Akinajo mentioned that a systemic timetable has been designed for running the operations,   noting that the operations which would run daily, morning and evening, would commence 6:30am to about 10:30am and 4:30pm to about 9:00pm.

She said it was important commuters take note to the timing of the schedules, stating the train would wait at each stations for no more than 90 seconds, warning passengers to avoid crossing the rail tracks.

The LAMATA boss who said though the operations will not start fully with electric capacity, but would gradually develop into full electric powered system, said the rail tracks would be energised.

“Under no circumstance should anyone cross the tracks, there is no alternative to life, crossing the track would be fatal,” she said.

She said the metro service would follow the timetable strictly, while operating through the electronic Cowry Cards and not ticketing.

The LAMATA boss disclosed the system would maintain 76 trips daily “because the tracks belongs purely to us (the State Government).”

She said while the operations would commence 9:00am Monday to get the Governor officially kick off the commercial system, the timetable would commence for 6:00am from Tuesday morning for 3-4hours session in the morning.

“Take responsibility for yourself,” she said cautioning intending passengers “do not go beyond the yellow safety line.”

The LAMATA boss assured that security measures, both human and architecture, are sufficiently available for safety of commuters.

According to her, about 300 cameras are spread across the stations, with over 30 cameras along the tracks.

“We will not tolerate vandalism of our rail track,” she said, mentioning that monitoring measures are in place with security infrastructure to prevent security breach.

She warned that those who are cut with ill agenda would be prosecuted, mentioning that eating and drinking on the trains are not allowed.

“We are trying to keep the sanctity of this system,” she said.

Akinajo further mentioned that the Red Line Rail would be completed before the end of the year, mentioning it is 90 to 95 percent completed.