LASG Introduces New Coaches To Enhance Blue Rail Line Operations

The Lagos State Government has announced that the travel time on the Lagos Blue Rail Line from Marina to Mile 2, currently 18 minutes, will be reduced to approximately nine to 10 minutes, with a lower fare.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this statement during the handover of three newly imported trains, each with 12 coaches, to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

Sanwo-Olu explained that the deployment of these new coaches will significantly enhance the Blue Rail Line’s efficiency, cutting journey times by about 50%. He also noted that LAMATA will increase the number of daily trips to accommodate more passengers.

“We are doubling the capacity that we already have on the blue rail line, and as a result, there will be a reduction in journey time, aside from that, it will be reliable and predictable. If it takes about 20 minutes to complete the journey, now it is about 10 minutes, which is what is desirable for any intra-city train,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for financial support in acquiring the new coaches, Sanwo-Olu highlighted that the trains will offer a faster and more efficient alternative to buses.

He also revealed that another set of larger, more advanced coaches for the Red Rail Line will arrive before the year’s end. The governor invited journalists to witness the installation of the new trains and urged LAMATA and the Chinese Construction Engineering Company (CCEC) to ensure that the process does not disrupt ongoing train operations.

In a separate development, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced additional special train services on its major standard gauge routes—Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna—for today and tomorrow. NRC Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa, in a statement issued by Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations Callistus Unyimadu, explained that the extension responds to high passenger demand during previous special services for Eid-el-Kabir.

The NRC advised passengers to arrive early for security screenings and boarding, as departures will adhere strictly to schedules, and encouraged completing online bookings in advance.