By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Government has announced that the Red Rail line will begin full passenger operations on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs Abimbola Akinajo.
“Full passenger operations on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line will commence on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo affirmed today,” a public notice from the agency read.
According to LAMATA, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, members of his executive council, and other dignitaries will launch the passenger operations and ride with commuters on the first fee-paying passenger trip.
Mrs Akinajo said that train services would commence daily from Agbado at 6.00 am.
“Before now, trips have emanated from Oyingbo at 9.00 am. The first train therefore got to Agbado at 10.07 am. The adjusted timetable foreshadows upcoming commercial passenger operations commencing on Tuesday, 15th October 2024,” the agency said.
He explained that the new timetable was the outcome of data gathered through the series of tests, including that for the non-fee-paying passengers. According to him, the new timetable gives priority to the origin trips from Agbado where riders live and work at Ikeja, Oshodi, and Lagos Island.
“For passengers whose journeys terminate on Lagos Island, buses will be available at Oyingo bus terminal for them to complete their journeys,” LAMATA said.
“It would be recalled that infrastructure for the Red Line was commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 29th February 2024. The Red Line’s first phase spanning 27 kilometres has eight stations at Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, lju, and Agbado.”