The Lagos State government has announced that the full passenger operations on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line will commence on Tuesday, 15thOctober, 2024.

The Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo, disclosed this on Friday, October 11.

He stated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will lead his executive council members and other dignitaries on the passenger operations launch and ride with commuters on the first fee-paying passenger trip.

He added that the train services will commence daily from Agbado at 6.00 am.

Akinajo’s disclosure was contained in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, on Friday, October 11.

The statement reads: “Full passenger operations on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line will commence on Tuesday, 15thOctober 2024, Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo affirmed today.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will lead his executive council members and other dignitaries on the passenger operations launch and ride with commuters on the first fee-paying passenger trip.

“Earlier, Engr. Akinajo stated that train services will commence daily from Agbado at 6.00 am. Consequently, the schedule for the train service has been adjusted with passenger movement commencing from 6.00 am from Agbado. Before now, trips have emanated from Oyingbo at 9.00 am. The first train therefore got to Agbado at 10.07 am. The adjusted timetable foreshadows upcoming commercial passenger operations commencing on Tuesday, 15thOctober 2024.

“Managing Director of LAMATA, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo explained that the new timetable was the outcome of data gathered through the series of tests, including that for the non-fee-paying passengers. According to Engr. Akinajo, the new timetable gives priority to the origin trips from Agbado where riders live and work at Ikeja, Oshodi, and Lagos Island.

“For passengers whose journeys terminate on Lagos Island, buses will be available at the Oyingbo bus terminal for them to complete their journeys.

“It should be recalled that infrastructure for the Red Line was commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 29thFebruary 2024. The Red Line’s first phase spanning 27 kilometres has eight stations at Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, lju, and Agbado.” (The Nation)