Lagos rail lines to commence operation in Q1 2023 – Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured that his administration would ensure that the Lagos Blue and Red Rail lines commence operation by the last quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023.

The Blue line from Okokomaiko in Lagos West on Lagos – Badagry Expressway after Lagos State University (LASU) is to come from Okokomaiko to Mile 2 through Orile, elevated to pass the National Arts Theatre then sea crossing and finally end up in Marina, while the Red Rail Line conceived by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration leads from Lagos Central District into Lagos West.

The governor who gave the assurance after carrying out an inspection and taking a ride on the ongoing Blue project in the state from National Theatre Station to Mile 2 station on Sunday, said his administration had been committed to realising the rail projects in the last two years.

Sanwo-Olu, who explained that the Blue Line Rail would be running on electric tracks, warned residents to keep off the train lines and not to walk on them.

He added that the work on the project was 90 per cent completed as the contractors were working seven days a week.
The governor, who said the state was set to bring in additional two sets of four train coaches from China by September and October, added that adequate security would be put in place at every station and platform with the use of CCTV.

He said the state government would soon clamp down on companies purchasing components of rail tracks infrastructure, saying they would be prosecuted.

“We started our journey from the National Art Theatre. We were on tracks from Orile-Iganmu to Alaba station and to Mile 2 station and we were all taking around the stations which we call concourse.
“At the Iganmu Station is just one but Alaba and Mile 2 are double concourse.

“Finally, we took the train back to National Art Theatre where we all inspected a brand new train that is a typical train that will be used on the blue line. This is the first time I’m taking you on the blue line to see where we are.

“The Blue Line terminates at Marina, at the back in Marina, it is an elevated station and it stretches out to outer Marina and where the Governor’s residence is, it is where it terminates. At the end of the station, you could see that the track is broken into two bridges. Why we have to have the backtrack is for parking.’’
“The next major activity on the Blue Line is what we called the third rail. The rail is powered, it will be activated on this rail track. The blue, for emphasis, will be running on EMU which is an electric motor vehicle, so they need to have power on the rail tracks.

“So that is where we have to have a lot of advocacy and information onto the citizens, especially where the Orile station up to Mile 2. They are at the ground level which is electric. We have wired off all the alignments but our citizens have started breaking the wires, we will go back for enforcement.

“When the tracks start, they are going to be running on electric. Citizens and passengers cannot walk on those tracks. You have that responsibility for the next six months that those tracks are not like the red line. Redline is DMV, the blue line is EMV.

“We are happy that the contractors are working seven days a week. The major aspect apart from the Marina station is a sea crossing from Eko Bridge to join the outer Marina. They have to finish it in about three months.

“By the time we will be coming back in July, the concrete construction should have been completed.

Governor Sanwo-Olu while condemning the level of vandalism along the rail corridors warned perpetrators to desist from such evil acts. He said the government would go after companies that purchased vandalised rail tracks infrastructure, adding that culprits will be traced and made to face the wrath of the law.
 
Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday issued a three days ultimatum to traders under the Apogbon Bridge in Lagos Island to vacate or risk demolition of the space by Wednesday this week.
 
He gave the warning while driving on the bridge during his inspection of the blue line rail project and saw that traders were back under the bridge with their goods displayed after they were driven away in the aftermath of the fire outbreak under the Apogbon bridge about six weeks ago. 
 
Governor Sanwo-Olu who frowned at the unlawful return of the traders under Apongbon bridge said the enforcement team would be deployed to the bridge after the three days ultimatum issued.