Red Line metro rail commences partial passenger operations

The Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line commenced partial, invitational passenger operations on Wednesday, following the successful completion of a six-week trial run.

The initial phase will see trains running four trips daily between Oyingbo in Lagos and Agbado in Ogun State, marking a significant milestone in Lagos State’s efforts to modernise its transportation system.

This development was announced in a statement released on Wednesday by the Head of Corporate Communication at Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Kolawole Ojelabi. He said the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line started partial, invitational passenger operations from August 28.

“The trains will run four trips a day between Oyingbo and Agbado. The Red Line, one of the six rail lines and one monorail prescribed for Lagos in her Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP) is a vital transport project connecting Lagos with Ogun State where many workers and business owners in Lagos reside.

“This milestone marks the culmination of planning, training and technical and ground staff, installing all the security features and a successful six-week trial run conducted without passengers to ensure the system’s safety, reliability, and efficiency,” the statement read in part.

The statement detailed that the partial operations will involve carefully selected groups of non-paying passengers from August 28 to September 27. These groups will participate in trial runs, providing crucial feedback on the system’s performance, efficiency, and overall user experience.

This feedback is essential to refine the operations before the Red Line opens fully to the public, ensuring that the service upholds the highest standards of safety, reliability, and commuter satisfaction.

In another post on their official X account, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on Tuesday shared a registration link for Lagosians interested in participating in the partial, invitational rides on the Red Line.

To join the trial rides, interested individuals must first visit the provided registration link and submit the required details for potential selection. The registration process requires participants to provide a valid email address, full name, phone number, age bracket, preferred test ride date, trip group (morning or evening), and their choice of boarding station from any of the eight available stations: Mushin, Agege, Agbado, Oyingbo, Iju, Yaba, Oshodi, and Ikeja. After submitting the form, participants will await further communication from LAMATA regarding their selection and additional details about the ride.