Ahead of plans to commission the red line railway project by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Lagos state government through Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority, LAMATA, recently took delivery of some coaches that will be deployed for operation along Oyingbo- Agbado standard gauge railway corridor.
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The red line project which formed part of the master plan designed by the President when he was governor of Lagos state for 8 years from 1999 to 2007 was started and completed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu within 3 years.
Already commuters resident along the Agbado to Oyingbo railway corridor and environs have started to brace up in anticipation of the commencement of operation this month.
Speaking on the arrival of the coaches, managing director of Nigerian Railway Corporation Engr. Fidet Okhiria said that the coaches recently imported into the country belong to LAMATA for the red line project.
According to him, the corporation has been giving support to Lagos state government to enable it start operation of commercial passenger train service (red line) from Oyingbo to Agbado in Ogun state.
He explained that the corporation is only assisting the state to ensure the red line commences operation by allowing LAMATA to use our corridor to keep the newly imported coaches.
According to him “we are doing everything to support Lagos state government to start operation of the red line
“The imported coaches covered with tarpaulin were taken to railway workshop at Kajola for safety as part of effort to support the state government”.
Corroborating, Lagos district manager of NRC Engr. Augustine Arase said “we only assisted Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority, LAMATA to use our corridor”.
Regarding plan by LAMATA to start operation of the red line, he explained that the Authority will not in any way compete with NRC when it commences operation as the former is expected to shuttle from Oyingbo to Agbado and back on standard gauge railway line depending on schedule while the latter operates twice daily at a flat rate of N700.00 from Iddo to Kajola/Ijoko and back.
However, some commuters in reaction to the plan to commence operation of red line expressed delight that after several years of designing a master plan for rail transportation, the Sanwo-Olu administration has finally made the project a reality.
In his perspective, Mr. Eric Umezurike, managing director, First Rit Nigeria Limited described plan to start operation of the long awaited red line from Oyingbo to Agbado and back as a welcome development that will go a long way to cushion effect of high cost of road transport.
He however advised the state government to streamline ticket rate based on destination of passengers from one point to another between Oyingbo and Agbado and back instead of charging a flat rate as presently obtains with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Mr. John Obot commended the state government for completing the project within 3years adding that many commuters will prefer to drop their vehicles at home in preference to board the train.
He also advised the state government to operate during the weekends as the NRC narrow gauge mass transit does not operate on Saturdays and Sundays.
Passenger turnout improves despite online booking
Since the introduction of online booking for passengers wishing to board Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge passenger train, the turnout of passengers have continued to increase, the Lagos district manager of the corporation, Engr. Augustine Arase said.
He noted that initially there was a lull in passenger turnout but that with proper public enlightenment more passengers have started to patronise the Lagos-Ibadan passenger train service.
Arase assured passengers that there is adequate security on board the the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge passenger train.
He averred that the corporation has zero tolerance for vandalization of railway equipment adding that culprits arrested will be prosecuted
He therefore warned people resident along railway corridor against vandalization of railway properties.
Mass Transit: NRC vows to dismiss, prosecute staff for collecting cash on train
Against the backdrop of allegations by some passengers on board Iddo to Ijoko/Kajola narrow gauge Lagos Mass Transit Train, LMTT Lagos district manager of Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC Engr. Augustine Arase has said that Train Ticket Collectors, TTCs found collecting cash without issuing tickets to passengers on board trains will be dismissed from service and prosecuted.
He disclosed that in the time past many staff have been dismissed for collecting cash without issuing tickets to passengers on board the daily Lagos mass transit trains but that it is now a policy to prosecute indicted staff after dismissal.
Arase posited that there is a task force on board the daily mass transit train from Kajola/Ijoko to Iddo saddled with the responsibility of monitoring activities of the ticket collectors and passengers during transit.
According to him, the penalty for passengers who pay cash without collecting tickets;on board the trains is N20,000 per passenger while ticket checkers found wanting will be dismissed.
Regarding the approach adopted to stop roof top climbing of coaches in transit by some passengers, the district manager said management identified the entry and exit points of perpetrators and decided not to have any stop over at identified railway stations.
According to him the corporation also imposed punitive measures on some drivers who slow down for such passengers to climb roof to of coaches.
He explained further that hitherto a combined team of Nigerian Railway Police, Nigeria Security band Civil Defence Corps, railway command and Lagos State Police Command embarked on periodic raiding and arrested roof to climbers but the practice continued despite the fact that some culprits paid fines while others were prosecuted and jailed.
According to him, “the act of passengers reputedbfor climbing roof top of coaches to engage in unwholesome activities and throwing stones at passers has since been curbed because trains no longer stop at their entry and exit points”.
As for trading along the railway tracks, Arase stated that it is illegal to trade along or beside the railway tracks.
He averred that the corporation has zero tolerance for trading along or beside the railway lines adding that the security operatives have continued to embark on periodic raids to discourage people from trading along the railway lines.