Lagos Rail Mass Transit

Lagos Rail Mass Transit is a rapid transit system being developed and under construction in Lagos State. The rail system is being managed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). The railway equipment including electric power, signals, rolling stock, and fare collection equipment will be provided by the private sector under a concession contract. LAMATA is responsible for policy direction, regulation, and infrastructure for the network. The first section of the network, Phase I of the Blue Line, was originally planned to be completed in 2011, though the construction has suffered many delays caused by shortage of funds and change of government. In February 2021, the Lagos State Government announced that the Blue and Red Lines would be open by December 2022.

Timeline

* 2008: A metro is proposed for Lagos, allegedly with a completion date of 2011.
* 2009: Construction commences on the Blue Line.
* 2016: Phase I (the Blue Line from Marina to Mile 2) planned to open in December 2016.
* 2018: After an Alstom review of the project, Phase I (the Blue Line from Marina to Mile 2) is now set to open in 2021.
* 2021: The Lagos State Government announced that the Blue and Red Lines will open in December 2022.
* 2022, January: LAMATA purchases two Talgo VIII trains.

History

The idea of developing a rapid transit in Lagos state,dates back to 1983 with the Lagos Metroline network conceived by Alhaji Lateef Jakande during the Second Nigerian Republic. The initial Metroline project was scrapped in 1985 by Muhammadu Buhari at a loss of over $78 million to the state tax payers. In year 2003,the then governor, Bola Tinubu, revived the rail network for Lagos state with a formal announcement of its construction. The initial cost $135 million was proposed for the greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project to be implemented by the newly formed Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). LAMATA initially concentrated on developing a Bus Rapid Transit system, running from Mile 12 to Lagos Island. In 2008, LAMATA to make progress with the rail project, focusing on the Blue Line and the Red Line.

Rolling stock

In September 2011, LAMATA announced that it would acquire some H5-series subway trains formerly used by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The cars were to be refurbished in the United States and converted to standard gauge before being imported and put into service on the Blue and Red lines. The same contract also included an option for some H6-series subway cars from the TTC, however this has since been cancelled. The trains were built as two-unit married pairs with a driver's cab in the front right corner of each car.

In January 2015, LAMATA opted for Chinese-built trains instead, ordering 15 electro-diesel multiple units from CNR Dalian with an option for 14 more. About 76 H5 cars that had been taken for refurbishment to Buffalo, New York, have been scrapped by August 2015.

In August 2018, LAMATA signed an agreement with Alstom. As a part of the agreement, Alstom conducted a review of the rail lines. After the review of the rail project, which should have initiated passenger activity, the state government said the Blue Line, would now be ready for passenger operation by 2022. This deal also plans for the electrification of a portion of the track.

In January 2022, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited the US state of Wisconsin, to announce the purchase of two Talgo VIII trainsets for service on the Red Line. They had been ordered by Wisconsin for use on the Amtrak Hiawatha Service in 2009, but they were never placed in service, and were instead stored. Talgo VIII cars are based on the unique technology of the Talgo ''Pendular'' model, which (similar to a bicycle rider) ''leans into a curve'' resulting in less sideways force and a higher comfort for passengers when driving over a curvy track. The "leaning" of the car is ''passive'' e.g. it happens purely by the resulting force, without electronics, sensors or engines. This makes the ''Pendular'' and ''VIII'' suitable models for city rail traffic.

Routes

The Blue Line: Okokomaiko - Marina

In April 2008, the Lagos State Government approved ₦ 70 billion for construction of the Okokomaiko- Iddo-Marina Line, with an estimated completion date of 2011. However, the project suffered many delays due to lack of funds. The opening date was revised to June 2013, then December 2016, then 2017. As of November 2016, only 16 km of the 27 km Blue Line had been completed. The contract was awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), with advisory services being provided by CPCS Transcom Limited. Lagos State is financing construction of the Blue Line with its own resources. The Blue Line will run 27.5 km from Marina to Okokomaiko, with 13 stations and an end-to-end journey time of 35 minutes. The entire Blue Line will operate over a secure and exclusive right-of-way, with no level crossings and no uncontrolled access by pedestrians or vehicles. The route will run on the surface in the central reservation of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway between Igbo-Elerin Road (Okokomaiko) and Iganmu. The line will then be elevated from Iganmu along the south side of the expressway passing the junction with Eric Moore Road, crossing just south of the National Theatre to Iddo, then south to Lagos Island with a terminal at Marina. A Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) will be constructed at Okokomaiko, with a track connection from the Blue Line to the depot.

1st phase: Mile 2 - Marina

On April 25th, 2022, the governor of Lagos announced that phase 1 of the Blue Line, is completed by 90%. Delivery date would be in Q1 of 2023. The gouvernor called on the citizens not to walk on the rails anymore, since the rails are electrified. Images in social media show the gouvernor in the cockpit of a train on a test run.
Agence Française de Dévelopment (AFD), an international organization, announced readiness to release funds and technical assistance for the Lagos State Government, through Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), for the development of eight Quality Bus Passageways, QBCs, and two transport interchanges under the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan Project Phase 1, LSTMPP1. AFD is a funding and technical assistance agency that works with partners.

Furthermore, Mr. David Margonszternd, AFD Task Team Leader, explained that AFD would fund two transportation interchanges at Marina and Mile-2, as well as eight passageways for quality bus operations.

The Red Line: Agbado - Marina

The second line, the Red Line, will run from Marina to Agbado. The line will share the right-of-way of the Lagos–Kano Standard Gauge Railway. The Lagos State government purchased Talgo trainsets for use on the Red Line from Wisconsin, United States of America, where they were built and purchased for service between Milwaukee and Madison, but never used.

The Red Line irport Branch

The Airport Branch of the Red Line runs from Ikeja to MMIA International Terminal

The Brown line will go from Mile 12 to Marina

The Brown line will go from Mile 12 to Marina

The Orange line will go from Redeemed to Marina

The Orange line will go from Redeemed to Marina

The Purple line will go from Redeemed to Ojo

The Purple line will go from Redeemed to Ojo

The Green Line: Marina - Epe

The green line will start at Marina and will stretch towards Epe.

The Yellow line will go from Otta to Iddo

The Yellow line will go from Otta to Iddo

See also

* LAMATA
* Abuja Light Rail
* Rail Transportation in Nigeria
* Rapid transit
* Lagos Bus Rapid Transit System
* Lagos State Ferry Services Corporation

References

External links

Subways.net
Lagos Rail Mass Transit

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lagos Rail Mass Transit
Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority
Rapid transit in Nigeria
Public transport in Lagos
Transport infrastructure under construction in Nigeria
Projects established in 1983
Rail infrastructure in Lagos