Lagos State Government has announced that it will temporarily suspend the Blue Line operation of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The decision to shut down the rail service temporarily, according to the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was made to ensure a smooth transition to electricity.
He made this announcement on Wednesday while providing an update on the metro line.
The governor countered that stopping passenger service is a common practice around the world to implement significant changes, adding that moving to electricity will enable the government offer more trips and provide safer passenger service to a greater number of people.
He stated that starting on Monday, there will be an increase in the number of train trips from 12 to 54, with 74 trips planned for the end of November.
He also stated that since the LRMT Blue Line opened on September 4th, over 80,000 passengers have been transported, with the objective of reaching 150,000 daily passengers between Marina and Mile 2 in the upcoming months.
The governor said, “Here is an important update on our metro line. Starting Monday, October 16, 2023, we’re increasing train trips on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line from 12 to 54, with plans for 74 trips by the end of November.
“To make this transition, we’ll need to shut down train services on Saturday, October 14, after the morning peak service and for the entire day on Sunday, October 15, for the switch to electricity. This momentary pause is to ensure that your safety is our top priority. I can assure you that suspending passenger operations is a global practice to effect major changes. This switch to electricity will help us introduce more trips and help us serve more passengers safely.”
He further stated, “I’m proud to say that we launched the first phase of the LRMT Blue Line on September 4, 2023, and we have moved over 80,000 passengers. Our goal is to surpass 150,000 daily passengers between Marina and Mile 2 in the coming months. The future of Lagos trains is bright, and I’m committed to improving your commuting experience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to enhance our public transportation system.”