Lagos Increases Trips For Blue Rail Line to 72 Per Day

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line will from Monday, August 12, 2024, increase the number of trips it makes daily from 54 to 72 while travelling in a shorter time to allow for easy transportation in the metropolis.

Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), said this in a statement at the weekend, adding that the current schedule for Sunday operations remains unchanged.

“The Blue Line train riders will now travel between Marina and Mile 2 in just about 18 minutes from the previous travel time of 25 minutes.

“The implication is that there will be a train every 18 minutes both ways, thus allowing commuters to plan their trips,” she said.

Mrs Akinajo also announced a 25 per cent discount fare for commuters travelling within the off-peak period set at 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. daily.

“The new train schedule is potentially expected to reduce journey times, encourage more riders to use the train system during off-peak periods and reduce transport spending.

“The new timetables are available on the LAMATA website, stations and our social media handles,” she said.

The Blue Line which commenced passenger operation on September 4, 2023, has moved close to two million passengers.

In December 2022, the Lagos State government under the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu completed the Blue Line spanning 13 kilometres in the first phase, and extends from Mile 2 to Marina, covering five stations. The construction started in 2010 under the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. It experienced some delays in the succeeding administration before the current Government continued from 2019.

According to the governor, upon completion, Lagos became the first sub-national government in Africa to fund and deliver a rail system from its balance sheet.