In an effort to improve transportation efficiency, the Lagos State government has announced plans to increase the number of daily train trips from 12 to 54 on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line. This increase is set to take effect from Monday, 16 October 2023. Furthermore, the government aims to further raise the number of trips to 74 by the end of November 2023.
According to Kolawole Ojelabi, the Consultant for Corporate Communication at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), the tracks will be energized by next Monday, enabling the deployment of additional train sets for daily passenger operations. Ojelabi also stated that train services will run on Saturday, 14th October 2023, but only during the morning peak period. However, there will be no service in the afternoon and for the entire day on Sunday, 15th October 2023, to facilitate a complete changeover to electricity.
Engr. Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, the Managing Director of LAMATA, emphasized the importance of prioritizing passenger safety during the switch to electricity. She explained that suspending passenger operations is a standard practice worldwide when implementing significant changes such as this. Akinajo expressed confidence that the switch will allow for the introduction of more trips and the transportation of a larger number of passengers.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu launched the passenger operations of the first phase of the LRMT Blue Line on 4th September 2023, with over 80,000 passengers having been transported since then. It is projected that the number of daily passengers traveling between Marina and Mile 2 will exceed 150,000 in the coming months. This increase in train trips is expected to greatly enhance transportation in Lagos State and alleviate congestion on the roads.
