The test run of the Blue Line train service will begin in late December 2022, according to Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, who is determined to finishing the project before the year is out.
At the celebration for the launching of the final T-beam for the blue line rail mass transportation project on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu made this statement. The two trains purchased in China for the project, he noted, will reach Lagos in October.
The governor assured the people that his administration would do everything in its power to ensure that the project was finished on schedule, especially given that it would continue to adhere to deadlines.
He added that his administration is actively striving to fulfil a pledge that the trains will begin operating commercially in the first quarter of 2023 rather than just making empty promises.
The governor views the lifting of the final T-beam as historic because it foreshadowed the timely completion of the blue rail line project.
The T-beam that was released on Wednesday was the 984th T-beam for the Blue line rail project, according to Sanwo-Olu.
The extension of the Blue line rail project from Okokomaiko to Agbara will be a topic for discussion, the governor added, with his counterpart from Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun.
In her welcome address, the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, said the Blue Line project, a 27-kilometre rail line from Okokomaiko to Marina, has been one of the most difficult projects the Lagos State Government has embarked upon given the many challenges it has had to overcome.
“To get to this point, we have had disturbances and delays in the relocation of submarine cables, submarine natural gas pipelines, and removal of underground ship wreckages. The submarine geological conditions are complex, thus making construction in the lagoon extremely difficult.
“On a number of times, barges have collided with the trestle supporting our construction activities while the outbreak of Covid19 epidemic, and the long transportation cycle of imported equipment and materials have contributed to delays in the prompt completion of the rail project.”
She stated that the final T-beam launch indicated that the state is gradually inching to the completion of the civil infrastructure for the first four phases of the Blue line from Mile 2 to Marina.
“To get to this point, we have completed 1967 pile foundations, 306 platforms, 310 piers, 267 cover beams, fabrication and erection of 984 T-beams.
“We are currently, with the support of Mr. Governor, retrofitting the train stations at Mile 2, Alaba, Iganmu and National Theatre in readiness for passenger operation in the first quarter of 2023. During a recent visit of Mr. Governor and his team to the Blue line, we demonstrated the ability to scale up the use our Cowry card as the payment option for rail services.
“The essence is to ensure that we have a single payment platform for all regulated public transport services in Lagos State.
“To show the commitment of Mr. Governor to seeing Blue Line start operation, new sets of trains have been ordered in addition to the train set on ground in Lagos. We expect the new train sets to arrive Lagos very soon.”