Blue Rail Line to Close for Two Days to Switch From Locomotive to Electricity - Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Rail Line, which started operation on September 4, 2023, is going to shut down temporarily from Saturday, October 14, to Sunday, October 15, to enable the government to switch the train from locomotive to electricity.

The reason for the upgrade is to increase the train trips from 12 to 54 starting Monday, October 16, while plans to increase the trips from 16 to 74 will commence after the first implementation is successful.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on his official page on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the suspension was to ensure the safety of all its passengers and meet its target.

The governor said that the suspension of operations follows global practice when effecting a change. He also emphasized that the switch from locomotive to electricity was to introduce more trips and help serve more passengers.

The statement read,

• Dear Lagosians, 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.

• 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.