The Lagos Red Rail Line from Oyingbo to Agbado took off on Tuesday 15th October as the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu served as Head Ground Staff to launch the service.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at 5.20pm, signalled the commercial operation of the Line, as it took off from Oyingbo station. The Red Line runs through stations in Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege and Iju and ends at Agbado.
Two of his Commissioners – Oluwaseun Osiyemi for Transportation and Gbenga Omotoso of Information and Strategy joined him and other state officials and invitees.
The take-off has been due for a while. The Blue Line running between Mile 2 and Marina started operation since early last year and the expectation was that the Red Rail will join soon. Well, the ‘soon’ has come.
The train will take just about one hour from Oyingbo to Agbado, a journey that should take and two and half hours by road on a good day. A trip from Oyingbo to Agbado costs N1,200 while from Oyingbo to Ikeja or Agege is N500.
It is a good thing to have the government at least putting something in place to improve the transportation system in Lagos and reduce the stress of the citizens. Both Blue and Red Rail lines should serve as the beginning of better transportation system for the bubbling but congested city of Lagos.
Therefore, the launch of the Red Rail Line further pushes for the need for a major busing system for a mega city like Lagos to complement both the Blue and Red lines, because the little yellow buses are not useful for mass transit but create more traffic congestion and stress, and sometimes, pain.
The time has come to also now look at the RAILBUS system. It’s a system where the specially built buses will run on the rail lines and should provide the ‘extra, extra’ boost for the commuting public. The RAILBUS system operates in other countries.
Apart from helping to enhance the movement of people in a sprawling city like Lagos, RAILBUS is an innovative mass transit system that will also environmentally impact the city as a most effective transportation system that is also economically friendly.
RAILBUS is important for a city like Lagos if the government really needs to make the environment clean and for commuters to get to their destinations faster.
The RAILBUS is a global clean mobility initiative which is pioneering sustainable, affordable, and innovative urban transit for all cities. It provides ultra lightweight vehicles and high flexibility in operations which reduces the cost of the tracks infrastructure significantly, reaching less than twenty percent of the cost of a Metro system that has the same length and capacity.
RAILBUS as a mass transit system can literally transform every city in the world and promote economic growth in developing nations, as well as in leading countries. Its impact will be significant in cities struggling with poor road infrastructure that are far exceeding their designed capacity and in need of a solution, like Lagos.
Designed for efficiency, it uses small, driverless electric vehicles that run on elevated tracks, the lightweight and flexible nature of the system enables it to be retrofitted into a broad range of environments and provide transportation that is environmentally friendly and operationally efficient. The vehicles are designed to operate with minimal noise, contributing to reduced sound pollution in urban areas. This feature is particularly advantageous in densely populated cities, where noise pollution is a significant concern.
RAILBUS features highly modular construction, fully electric solar powered, elevated end-to-end, simultaneous loading and off-loading, dynamic route management, great return on investment, reliability, robustness & safety. All tracks will be covered with state-of-the-art solar panels, harnessing renewable energy to power its journeys. This not only reduces carbon emissions but also ensures a consistent, cost-effective energy supply. The vehicles are engineered from top to bottom with high strength, low weight components and modules. It is packed with the latest technologies to maximise safety and efficiency, while minimising energy and maintenance costs.
Core objectives of offerings like RAILBUS is the focus on promoting eco-friendly transit solutions, reducing carbon emissions, and fostering an informed, inclusive community. There should therefore be an urgent need and high demand for an affordable and sustainable mass transportation system for cities like ours and cities throughout Middle East, Asia and Africa are already excited to integrate RAILBUS into their transportation system.
ِAs we welcome the Red Rail line to join the Blue Rail, here’s hoping for a Rail Bus system that will complement the transportation system already on the ground and move Lagosians from one point to another without all the stress they currently face.
