The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has successfully conducted a comprehensive inspection of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line, a significant milestone towards securing a three-year operational license for the electric rail system.
This development was announced in a statement released on Tuesday through the official X account of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
According to the statement, the inspection, which was led by NRC’s Director of Operations, Akin Osinowo, involved a detailed evaluation of the Blue Line’s infrastructure, operational systems, and independent power plant.
Following the inspection, the NRC expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of the Blue Line. The statement further noted that the Blue Line would be granted an operational license valid for three years once it meets all required NRC standards.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has expressed satisfaction with the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line after conducting a detailed inspection of its infrastructure and operations. This inspection is a crucial step towards obtaining an operational license for the Blue Line, operated by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA),” the statement read.
It added, “The inspection team, led by Akin Osinowo, NRC’s Director of Operations, praised the Lagos State Government for pioneering electric rail transportation in Nigeria. The team thoroughly examined the entire Blue Line system, including its independent power plant.”
The NRC statement also highlighted that before the Blue Line commenced passenger operations in September 2023, it had been reviewed and approved for safety by the Government Inspector of Railways (GIR), a regulatory body within the Federal Ministry of Transport. This initial safety certification confirmed that the Blue Line met all necessary safety standards, allowing it to begin operations.
Background on the Lagos Blue Line
The Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line is a 27-kilometre urban rail route connecting Marina and Okokomaiko, constructed in phases. The first phase, which covers 13 kilometres from Marina to Mile 2, includes five stations: Mile 2, Suru-Alaba, Orile Iganmu, National Theatre, and Marina. The second phase is projected to be completed by 2027, with construction managed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
Powered by its own independent power plant, the Blue Line began operations on September 4, 2023, and according to LAMATA’s August 2024 statistics, it has already transported nearly two million passengers.
On August 12, the number of daily trips on the Blue Line was increased from 54 to 72, while the Sunday schedule remained unchanged. Additionally, travel time between Marina and Mile 2 was reduced from 25 minutes to just 18 minutes, also effective on August 12.
In an effort to boost the usage of the electric rail system, the Lagos State Government introduced a 25% fare reduction on the Blue Line during off-peak hours, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, effective August 12, 2024.
Credit: Nairametrics (Text Excluding Headline)
