15 things to know when the Lagos Blue Line rail service begins today

The rail line was inaugurated in January 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Lagos Blue Line rail line will start carrying passengers today, Monday, September 4, 2023.

On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) announced the development, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu joining members of the public for the first trip.

Here are 15 facts about the Lagos Blue Line rail system that you should know.

• The Lagos Blue Line rail system was proposed in 1983 during the government of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the former Governor of Lagos State.

• The rail network was inaugurated 20 years later, in 2003, during the administration of Bola Tinubu.

• The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) built the rail network, which was completed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company.

• The Lagos State Government estimates that the initial phase of the rail service will transport 250,000 passengers each day.

• The first section, which runs from Marina to Mile 2, is 13 miles long.
• The second part is 14 km long and runs from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko.
• When completed, the full 27km train line will carry approximately 500,000 passengers every day.
• The first phase has five stations: Marina, National Theatre, Iganmu, Alaba, and Orile.
• According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, the journey from Marina to Mile 2 will take 15 minutes.
• The complete journey from Marina to Mile 2 will cost 750, while zonal rates — for customers who do not make the full journey — will range between 400 and 500.
• Passengers can board the train using their cowry cards.
• The trains are powered by an independent power supply known as an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU).
• When fully operating, the train service will perform 76 trips each day from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• At each station, the trains will halt for 90 seconds.
• Each station features command and control centres, as well as more than 30 surveillance cameras that monitor the tracks alone.