Lagos Rail Mass Transit

• 2008: A metro is proposed for Lagos, allegedly with a completion date of 2011.
• 2009: Construction commences on the Blue Line.[1]
• 2016: Phase I (the Blue Line from Marina to Mile 2) planned to open in December 2016.
• 2018: After an Alstom review of the project, Phase I (the Blue Line from Marina to Mile 2) is now set to open in 2021.
• 2021: The Lagos State Government announced that the Blue and Red Lines will open in December 2022.[4]
• 2022, January: LAMATA purchases two Talgo VIII trains.
• On Jan 24, 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the first phase of the Lagos Mass Transit Blue Line Rail Project.[5]
• On September 4, 2023, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu officially opened the Blue Rail transit for public use. [6]

The idea of developing a rapid transit in Lagos state, dates back to 1983 with the Lagos Metroline network conceived by Alhaji Lateef Jakande during the Second Nigerian Republic.[7][8][9][10] The initial Metroline project was scrapped in 1985 by Muhammadu Buhari at a loss of over $78 million to the state tax payers.[11] In year 2003, the then governor, Bola Tinubu, revived the rail network for Lagos state with a formal announcement of its construction.[12] The initial cost $135 million was proposed for the greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project to be implemented by the newly formed Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).[12] LAMATA initially concentrated on developing a Bus Rapid Transit system, running from Mile 12 to Lagos Island. In 2008, LAMATA to make progress with the rail project, focusing on the Blue Line and the Red Line.

Blue line, red line, railway stations and airport

"Talgo VIII" (or "Talgo 8") train. Example pictured is from Amtrak Cascades

In September 2011, LAMATA announced that it would acquire some H5-series subway trains formerly used by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The cars were to be refurbished in the United States and converted to standard gauge before being imported and put into service on the Blue and Red lines. The same contract also included an option for some H6-series subway cars from the TTC, however this has since been cancelled.[13][14][15][16] The trains were built as two-unit married pairs[17] with a driver's cab in the front right corner of each car.[18]

In January 2015, LAMATA opted for Chinese-built trains instead, ordering 15 electro-diesel multiple units from CNR Dalian with an option for 14 more.[19] About 76 H5 cars that had been taken for refurbishment to Buffalo, New York, have been scrapped by August 2015.[20]

Working principle of the "Pendular" cars (green: gravity, red: centrifugal force in curve, blue: resulting force)

In August 2018, LAMATA signed an agreement with Alstom. As a part of the agreement, Alstom conducted a review of the rail lines. After the review of the rail project, which should have initiated passenger activity, the state government said the Blue Line, would now be ready for passenger operation by 2022. This deal also plans for the electrification of a portion of the track.[21]

In January 2022, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited the US state of Wisconsin, to announce the purchase of two Talgo VIII trainsets for service on the Red Line.[22][23] They had been ordered by Wisconsin for use on the Amtrak Hiawatha Service in 2009, but they were never placed in service, and were instead stored.[24] Talgo VIII cars are based on the unique technology of the Talgo Pendular model, which (similar to a bicycle rider) leans into a curve resulting in less sideways force and a higher comfort for passengers when driving over a curvy track.[25][26] The "leaning" of the car is passive e.g. it happens purely by the resulting force, without electronics, sensors or engines.

• Subways.net Archived November 19, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Lagos Rail Mass Transit
• RGI Archived July 22, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
• Urbanrail.net