The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has embarked on a crucial trial run for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line, aiming to commence passenger operations in the last quarter of the year. This marks a pivotal development following extensive engineering, speed, and weight tests to ensure the system’s readiness.
Kolawole Ojelabi, Head of Corporate Communications for LAMATA, revealed that the British rail class 43 HST train was utilized for the test run. The successful simulation underscored the effective track-sharing arrangement with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), involving comprehensive participation from station officers and officials.
LAMATA highlighted that the British rail class 43 HST train offers flexible seating configurations, accommodating 60 passengers per coach for short trips and up to 150 people, including standing passengers, for intracity commutes. The train can be configured with five or six carriages and, while capable of speeds exceeding 120 kilometers per hour, its operational speed is restricted to 50 mph due to NRC regulations.
The Red Line metro rail is set to significantly reduce travel time between Agbado in Ogun State and Oyingbo in Lagos, cutting the journey from nearly three hours to just 55 minutes. This improvement promises to enhance daily commutes and overall transportation efficiency in the region.
Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, provided further details on social media. He stated that the trial runs would span four to six weeks, with four daily trips—two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Morning departures from Oyingbo Station are scheduled at 8:30 am, reaching Agbado by 9:37 am, with a return trip at 10:30 am.
In the afternoon, the train departs Oyingbo at 12:40 pm, arriving at Agbado by 1:47 pm, and the final trip of the day leaves Agbado at 2:50 pm, returning to Oyingbo by 3:50 pm. Gawat mentioned that different passenger groups would be onboard during the testing phase to gather valuable feedback on their experience.
The first phase of the Red Line project was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on February 29, 2024. The Red Line spans 37 kilometers, with the initial phase covering 27 kilometers from Agbado to Oyingbo, featuring eight strategically located stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo. Construction of this phase began on April 15, 2021.
The inauguration also included the signing of an agreement for the Red Line’s second phase, a collaboration between LAMATA and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). The Red Line will share tracks with the NRC’s Lagos to Ibadan route, facilitated by an agreement signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Funding for the project was mobilized by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with additional support from United Bank for Africa, First Bank, and Zenith Bank. Governor Sanwo-Olu previously announced the acquisition of trains from the United States, with further rolling stock procured from the United Kingdom in 2023 and China earlier this year. The Red Line is expected to transport 250,000 passengers daily, with capacity projected to rise to 750,000 once fully operational.