Lagos Light Rail
Encyclopedia
Lagos Light Rail is a light rail
system being developed in Lagos
, Nigeria
. The system is being sponsored by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority
(LAMATA) and is envisioned to consist eventually of seven lines. The railway equipment including electric power, signalling, rolling stock and fare collection equipment will be provided by the private sector under a Concession Contract. LAMATA is responsible for policy direction, regulation and infrastructure for the network. The concessionaire will generate its own dedicated electricity.
during the Nigerian Second Republic
. The initial Metroline project was scrapped in 1985 by Muhammadu Buhari
at a loss of over $78 million to the Lagos tax payers. The idea of developing a light rail network for Lagos was revived by Governor Bola Tinubu
in the early 2000s with a formal announcement of its construction in December 2003. This initial $135 million proposal was part of the greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project to be implemented by the newly formed Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). LAMATA initially concentrated on developing a Bus Rapid Transit system, running from Mile 12 to Lagos Island. In 2008, LAMATA began also to make progress with the rail project, focussing initially on the Blue Line and the Red Line.
, an Infrastructure Development consulting firm based in Ottawa, Canada. Construction actually commenced in January 2010, and completion is now expected in 2015. The Blue Line is now being built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. The Blue Line will run 27.5km from Marina to Okokomaiko, with 13 stations. End-to-end journey time will be approximately 35 minutes. It is being built as a high capacity, electrically powered rail mass transit system. Most of the route will be on the surface, running east-west, in the central reservation of the re-built Badagry Expressway between Igbo-Elerin Road (Okokomaiko) and Iganmu. The line will run on elevated structure from Iganmu along the south side of the expressway passing the junction with Eric Moore Road, crossing just south of the National Theatre to Iddo, then south to Lagos Island with a terminal at Marina. Construction is underway between National Theatre and Mile 2.
A Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) will be constructed at Okokomaiko, with a track connection from the Blue Line to the depot.
The entire Blue Line will operate over a secure and exclusive right-of-way, with no level crossings and no un-controlled access by pedestrians or vehicles.
Lagos State is financing construction of the Blue Line from its own resources. A concession contract is being awarded to finance, supply and operate the railway equipment, including electric power, signalling, trains, and fare collection.
. The line will share the existing 30 metre wide Nigerian Railway Corporation
(NRC) right-of-way.
Proposed Red Line stations
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system being developed in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The system is being sponsored by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority
Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority
Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, or LAMATA, is the state transit system of Lagos State. The current Managing Director is Dr. Dayo Mobereola....
(LAMATA) and is envisioned to consist eventually of seven lines. The railway equipment including electric power, signalling, rolling stock and fare collection equipment will be provided by the private sector under a Concession Contract. LAMATA is responsible for policy direction, regulation and infrastructure for the network. The concessionaire will generate its own dedicated electricity.
History
The idea of developing rapid transit in Lagos dates from the 1980s with the Lagos Metroline network conceived by the Alhaji Lateef JakandeLateef Jakande
Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, was a journalist who became governor of Lagos State in Nigeria from 1979 to 1983, and later was Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime .-Background:...
during the Nigerian Second Republic
Nigerian Second Republic
The Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
. The initial Metroline project was scrapped in 1985 by Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
at a loss of over $78 million to the Lagos tax payers. The idea of developing a light rail network for Lagos was revived by Governor Bola Tinubu
Bola Tinubu
Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected Senator for the Lagos West constituency in Lagos State, Nigeria in 1993, just before a military take-over in December 1993. After the return to democracy, he was elected governor of Lagos State, holding office from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007...
in the early 2000s with a formal announcement of its construction in December 2003. This initial $135 million proposal was part of the greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project to be implemented by the newly formed Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). LAMATA initially concentrated on developing a Bus Rapid Transit system, running from Mile 12 to Lagos Island. In 2008, LAMATA began also to make progress with the rail project, focussing initially on the Blue Line and the Red Line.
Okokomaiko-Marina Blue Line
In April 2008, the Lagos State Government approved ₦ 70 billion for construction of the Okokomaiko-Iddo-Marina Line, with an estimated completion date of 2011. Advisory services are being provided by CPCS Transcom LimitedCPCS Transcom Limited
CPCS Transcom Limited is an award-winning international infrastructure development firm specialising in private sector participation in transport, power, and urban sectors. An Ottawa, Ontario-based company, CPCS operates in more than 80 countries worldwide, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia...
, an Infrastructure Development consulting firm based in Ottawa, Canada. Construction actually commenced in January 2010, and completion is now expected in 2015. The Blue Line is now being built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. The Blue Line will run 27.5km from Marina to Okokomaiko, with 13 stations. End-to-end journey time will be approximately 35 minutes. It is being built as a high capacity, electrically powered rail mass transit system. Most of the route will be on the surface, running east-west, in the central reservation of the re-built Badagry Expressway between Igbo-Elerin Road (Okokomaiko) and Iganmu. The line will run on elevated structure from Iganmu along the south side of the expressway passing the junction with Eric Moore Road, crossing just south of the National Theatre to Iddo, then south to Lagos Island with a terminal at Marina. Construction is underway between National Theatre and Mile 2.
A Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) will be constructed at Okokomaiko, with a track connection from the Blue Line to the depot.
The entire Blue Line will operate over a secure and exclusive right-of-way, with no level crossings and no un-controlled access by pedestrians or vehicles.
Lagos State is financing construction of the Blue Line from its own resources. A concession contract is being awarded to finance, supply and operate the railway equipment, including electric power, signalling, trains, and fare collection.
Agbado-Marina Red Line
The second line, the Red Line, will run from Marina to AgbadoAgbado
Agbado is a town in central Niger. It lies at a major river crossing. Agbado is also a Name of a big rich and noble family in Benin.- See also :* Railway stations in Nigeria...
. The line will share the existing 30 metre wide Nigerian Railway Corporation
Nigerian Railway Corporation
Nigerian Railway Corporation is the government body operating railways in Nigeria.- Infrastructure and operations :Nigerian Railway Corporation operates a network of of single track lines, all have gauge....
(NRC) right-of-way.
Proposed Red Line stations
- Agbado
- Agege
- Ikeja
- Oshodi
- Mushin
- Yaba
- Ebute Metta
- Iddo
External links
- Lagos Rail Website official site
- LAMATA Rail Services official site