The Lagos State Government has assured all that its second rail project, Red Line, will commence commercial operations by October 15.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communication, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Kolawole Ojelabi, and posted on the agency’s X handle on Thursday.

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, also confirmed the development.

It will be recalled that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, had hinted PUNCH Online that when the Red Line commences full operations, it would complement the blue rail to pull out between 100,000 and 150,000 persons from the Lagos traffic daily.

The LAMATA MD stated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would lead his executive council members and other dignitaries on the passenger operations inauguration and ride with commuters on the first fee-paying passenger trip.

The LAMATA boss further said the train services would commence daily from Agbado at 6am.

She said, “Consequently, the schedule for the train service has been adjusted with passenger movement commencing from 6am from Agbado.

“Before now, trips emanated from Oyingbo at 9am. The first train therefore got to Agbado at 10.07am.

“The adjusted timetable foreshadows upcoming commercial passenger operations commencing on October 15.”

The LAMATA MD further stated that the new timetable was the outcome of data gathered through the series of tests, including the non-fee-paying passengers.

According to her, the new timetable gives priority to the origin trips from Agbado where riders live and work at Ikeja, Oshodi, and Lagos Island.

She noted that for passengers whose journeys terminate on Lagos Island, buses would be available at the Oyingbo bus terminal for them to complete their journeys.

PUNCH