By Funke Cole
It’s anybody’s guess why there seems to be so much anticipation for the operation of the Red Line rail. Having enjoyed the comfort and convenience of the Blue Line Rail, it was just as well that Lagosians would be on the lookout for the Red Line version. Thankfully, the waiting period was not forever as the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu pulled every stops to ensure that indeed the Red Line rail berthed.
Last Tuesday, there were visible signs that the day was going to be a red letter one, in a manner of speaking as the governor, who served as Head of the Ground Staff, signalled the commercial operation of the Red Line rail from the Oyingbo take off point to Agbado, at 5.20 pm.
As you would expect, other cabinet members — Commissioners Oluwaseun Osiyemi (Transportation) and Gbenga Omotoso (Information and Strategy) — were also on board. Other included Chairman of Transportation Committee of the state House of Assembly, Temitope Adewale; and, wait for this, Nollywood stars, led by the doyen Jide Kosoko, Yomi Fash Lanso, Segun Remi (Kanran), Olu Omolade and Femi Davies.
It was a carnival like event as onlookers and passengers literally danced attendance upon the celebrity figures seeking selfies. The governor raised his Cowry card even as he and urged Lagosians to patronise the train to ease their commuting.
An elated Sanwo-Olu said that the unveiling of the Red Line rail was yet another testimony to his transportation agenda for the commercial nerve centre of the country.
The Blue Line, running between Mile 2 and Marina, has been operating since last year, moving not less than two million passengers. The Red Line runs from Oyingbo to Agbado with stations in Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege and Iju.
As the train moved, the governor, as Head of Ground Staff, joyfully announced the approach to each stops, even as he enjoined passengers to stay at alert so they don’t miss their bus stops.
Sanwo-Olu said: “The train is slow and steady and we are happy that all sectors of the society are here with us, including the Guild of Actors. With the commencement of this train service, tomorrow (Wednesday) we shall flag off this service in full. LAMATA (Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority) has released their schedule of the train service”.
He said that from Oyingbo to Agbado, you will normally spend about two hours and 30 minutes by road but ‘’on our train, you will spend just about one hour”.
The governor disembarked at Ikeja along with other officials and drove to his office in Alausa, while the other passengers completed the journey at Agbado where a large crowd came out to welcome the train.
A trip from Oyingbo to Agbado costs N1,200 while from Oyingbo to Ikeja or Agege is N500.
House of Assembly member, Adewale lauded the governor for his commitment to providing good alternative modes of transportation to the people.
Actor Jide Kosoko described the Red Line as another legacy of the governor. He said the train should rather be called ‘Sanwo Train’. For him, the train is “very comfortable and convenient”.
Fash Lanso said the train is another testimony that Lagos is moving in the right direction. He said the train service would ensure that people living in the Agbado area are better served. To him the train alternative is good because there is no traffic congestion, no traffic lights or impediments.
The Red Line rail will navigate through the eight stations — Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, Iju and Agbado — covering 27 kilometres. It is expected to move about 500,000 people on a daily basis.