Red Line: NRC to give Lagos track access for operation of interstate rail transit

By Fidelis Ugbomeh

The Lagos state government has completed the Iddo to Ebute-Metta Junction axis of the standard gauge railway line which terminated at Ebute-Metta Junction.

Already the station terminal building at Oyingbo has since been completed while work is ongoing in the construction of a workshop at Otor for repair, maintenance, and fueling of Locomotive engines.

This followed an agreement between federal government through Federal Ministry of  Transportation and Lagos state government for the latter to link Ebute-Mette Junction where the original plan of Ibadan to Lagos standard gauge railway line terminated before the Apapa annex was added.

According to Managing Director of  Corporation Engr. Fidet Okhiria a steering committee on the red line project (Iddo to Agbado) comprising, LAMATA, NRC, FMOT, CCECC submitted a track framework as approved by NRC Board.

He stated thay based on recommendation of the committee, the stste government approved that It was instead of constructing two additional tracks side by side the existing standard and narrow gauge railway lines from Iddo to Agbado, the state government should construct standard gauge from Iddo linking the existing standard gauge line at Ebute-Metta Junction.

“Apart from saving cost of constructing two additional tracks from Iddo to Agbado the state governmenr also considered the cost of demolition of many buildings and payment of compensation before approving recommendation of the committee”, the NRC boss said

Okhiria pointed out that that corporation and the state government will work out modalities for “track access” based on s work plan before the Lagos Light rail (red line) project commences operation.

According to him, the Iddo to Agbado corridor was designed to accommodate 13 overpasses (overhead bridges) adding that the Lagos state government built 7 and the Federal Ministry of Transport built six.

Meanwhile the Lagos state government has completed and commissioned the Oyingbo and Yaba overpasses while that of Agbado has been completed and awaiting commissioning.