(THEWILL) – Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has officially flagged off the commercial operations of the first phase of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LMRT) Red Line.
Inaugurated February 29 by President Bola Tinubu, the commercial operation of the Red Line Rail was launched on Tuesday, from Agbado, a densely populated border community in Ogun State, where Governor Sanwo-Olu, along with other dignitaries including his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, made a historic ride to Oyingbo on Lagos Mainland.
The Red Line, which stretches 27 kilometres from Agbado to Oyingbo, is a cornerstone of Lagos State’s broader strategy to develop a comprehensive and sustainable public transportation network, aimed at addressing the city’s growing population and traffic demands.
It is the second rail system to become operational in Lagos and is designed to move approximately 500,000 passengers daily, which marks a significant milestone in the state’s transport infrastructure.
The red line features eight stations at key locations including Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, Iju, and Agbado, offering residents a seamless connection across these bustling areas.
Operated by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) for the Lagos State Government, the Red Line Rail is a diesel-propelled locomotive bought by the state government from Talgo Train in Tulsa, United States of America.
According to the schedule, the train runs twice at peak periods- morning and evening, leaving Agbado by 6 am, getting to Iju by 6:07 am, arriving Agege by 6:10 am, Ikeja by 6:29 am, Oshodi by 6:40 am, Mushin by 6:49 am, Yaba by 6:57 am and Oyingbo by 7:07 am.
The second train is expected to leave Agbado by 7:10 am and make the final destination at Oyingbo by 8:27 am.
For the evening trip, the train will leave Oyingbo by 6:20 pm and get to its final destination by 6:27 pm, while another one departs Oyingbo by 6:47 pm and gets to Agbado by 7:47 pm.
From Agbado’s end, the evening shuttle, according to the schedule, also leaves Agbado by 6:50 pm and gets to Oyingbo by 7:57 pm, while the second train leaves Oyingbo by 8:10 pm to get to Agbado by 9:17 pm.
Speaking on Tuesday, Sanwo-Olu emphasised the importance of the new rail system in his mission to keep Lagos moving.
