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Test running of Red Line rail to commence in December — Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, said the test running of the State Rail Mass Transit (LRMT), Red Line will begin in December, warning traders to desist from engaging in illegal trading on the tracks to prevent loss of lives through avoidable accidents.

This was just as Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that contracts for the second phase of the Blue Line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko had been awarded, saying that construction had since started and was expected to be completed in three years.

Besides, the governor further disclosed that from the initial 12 to 52 trips, the Blue Line would be increased further to over 70 trips by the turn of this year.

Sanwo-Olu made the disclosure during the commissioning of the Yaba Overpass Bridge which is one of the components of the Red Line, noting that the 37-kilometre Line from Agbado to Oyingbo is expected to move more than one million passengers daily when fully operational and also drastically reduce congestion in the state.

The governor described the event as significant, saying that with this Overpass Bridge and others at Ikeja, Mushin and Oyingbo, which would be formally commissioned before the end of the year, there would be no more occurrence of train-vehicular accidents at those locations.

It would be recalled that before the official commencement of the Blue Line from Marina to Mile 2 in September for passenger operation, the state government had carried out test running of the track to ensure no hassle was experienced.

The governor, while issuing the warning to traders to desist from engaging in illegal trading on the tracks, recalled that avoidable fatal accidents on railway crossings had been recorded over the years, saying that such incidents most of the time were due to human errors.

“Over the years, we have recorded avoidable fatal accidents on railway crossings, most of the times due to human errors. We recall the last one which occurred in March this year at the PWD/Ikeja GRA level crossing involving a Lagos State government staff bus. Sadly, lives were lost and people suffered varying degrees of injury in that accident,” the governor said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, let me reiterate that this bridge is not a marketplace; the steps, ramps, and sidewalks are not for displaying wares. Our law enforcement agencies have been given strict instructions to ensure zero tolerance for any misuse of this facility.

“I also want to use this opportunity to serve the last notice to all those who are engaged in illegal trading on the railway tracks. For your own safety and the safety of others, pack your wares and display items and leave the tracks immediately. Equally, I want to appeal to our informal bus operators that the era of lining their buses on the roadway is over. Please ensure that buses are parked within the space provided for your operations,” he added.

Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed that the state government had remained committed to developing sustainable solutions to the transportation challenges along the major transit spines with a view to giving relief to the teeming population by reducing congestion, improving travel time as well as the cost of commuting.

The governor said some of the major transit spines already receiving attention include Ikorodu Road, Oshodi-Lagos Abeokuta Motor/Expressway to the border between Lagos and Ogun state at Ota, Lekki Epe Expressway, Berger to CMS and Lagos Badagry Expressway.

Sanwo-Olu, therefore, urged the residents to ensure the safety of the project, saying that they should not feel unconcerned when societal enemies were bent on destroying “our commonwealth” as the state “transport projects have been implemented at huge cost.”

“We should not feel unconcerned when societal enemies are bent on destroying our commonwealth. We should be concerned because great societies are built and sustained when their people take ownership of their infrastructure.

“I therefore ask you all to protect this bridge from vandals and other societal enemies,” Sanwo-Olu counseled.

In her welcome address, the Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo said the Yaba Overpass Bridge was one of the five bridges the Lagos State government agreed with the Federal Ministry of Transport as part of the Red Line Rail project, to build to separate vehicular and train traffics and, therefore, “eliminate incessant accidents on railway level crossings.”

She added that when finally ready for passenger operations, the Red Line would have an exponential effect on the economy of Lagos State, disclosing that the 37-kilometre Red Line is expected to move more than one million passengers daily.

“The 37-kilometre Red line is expected to move more than one million passengers daily when fully operational. This train line will reduce congestion, emissions and facilitate easy movement for commuters and goods,” the LAMATA boss said.

According to her, the other bridges attached to the Red Line are those at Ikeja, Mushin, and Oyingbo, saying that the Pen Cinema bridge was already completed and in use.

She explained that the Federal Ministry of Transport also agreed to construct five bridges at Jonathan Coker around Fagba off Iju Road, Sogunle, Ilupeju bypass and Fadeyi, disclosing that the one cited at Asade Market had since been completed and already in use.

The LAMATA MD maintained that the bridges were an essential part of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line rail project to ensure the safety of the people of Lagos.

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