By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Lagos is leveraging on its successful and popular Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to build a rapid rail system to make it even easier for its 22 million residents to commute for business and leisure in Nigeria’s richest and most populous state.
The BRT, started in 2008 by former Governor Babatunde Fashola, was expanded by his successor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and has now been further expanded and upgraded with the introduction of a travel card in March this year used on all routes.
The public-private partnership (PPP) Lagos Rail Mass Transit System is sponsored by the state government and being developed by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
LAMATA proposes seven lines in the network – Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Purple, Brown and Orange, according to a document on the project published by RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY.
China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) is the contractor for the construction of the first line (Blue). The contract includes the fundamental design and development of rail infrastructure.
CCECC is constructing the Blue line in two phases. The first includes the National Theatre-Mile 2 section and the second Mile 2-Okokomaiko, the construction of which began in the administration of Fashola.
Construction of the Blue line was initially expected to be completed by 2011 but was delayed to 2020 due to funding issues. Alstom partners with LAMATA for the completion of Blue line.
Cost
The first two lines are estimated to cost $1.4 billion. The Red line will be 30 kilometres and run between Marina and Agbado. The Blue line will be 27 kilometres connecting Okokomaiko to Marina, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has explained.
The RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY document says the Blue line will cost $1.2 billion, funded entirely by the state government, which in May 2012 began negotiations with potential investors for the operation and maintenance of the line.
The 30km Red line will use the existing Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) corridor, constructed through a concession arrangement, Sanwo-Olu disclosed when he performed the ground breaking ceremony of the line in Ikeja.
He said the Red line is expected to be operational next year, and the concession contract will be for the operation and maintenance of the lines for 25 years.
The scope of work for the concessionaire also includes design and construction of the infrastructure associated with the performance and support of the lines.
The transaction adviser for the Red line is Dar Al-Handasah. CPCS Transcom is the transaction adviser for the Blue line. The two transaction advisers conducted feasibility studies and conceptual design work for their respective lines.
Line routes
The Blue line starts at Marina station and runs along Ebute Ero and Iddo stations, same as the Red line. From Iddo, the Blue line runs on an elevated platform beside the National Theatre and descends at Iganmu to join the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
The line runs through Alaba, Mile 2, Festac, Alakija, Trade Fair, Volkswagen, LASU, and reaches Okokomaiko where it ends.
The construction of a sea-crossing bridge section of the Blue line was completed by CCECC in December 2019.
The Red line begins as a double line at Marina, goes through Ebute Ero, and ends at Iddo. It then winds northwards via a reverse curve to Ebute Metta and goes straight to Yaba, Mushin, and Oshodi before reaching Ikeja.
At the Ikeja station, the Red line links the international and domestic airport terminals in a single line.
The Red line moves as a double line further northwards from Ikeja through Agege, Iju, and finally to Agbado.
Passenger railway service run by the NRC from the North will terminate at the Agbado interchange. Passengers travelling to Marina using NRC services will change train at Agbado and continue on the Red line.
Some of the Red line sections from Agbado will run on NRC corridor tracks.
Island-style platforms
The Red and Blue lines will have 13 stations each. Three stations in the south end of the Red line will be shared with the Blue line. The two railway lines will, therefore, comprise 23 stations in total.
The stations will have island-style platforms and commuter payment systems. Public address and electronic information screens will be installed in each station. The Ebute Ero station will have an escalator.
Several rail crossings with elevated road structures will be built along the lines. A total 35 pedestrian bridges will be constructed over the NRC corridor.
Cable ducts and walkways, in addition to drainage system with two walls, will be built along different sections of the lines.
Between Marina and Iddo, a combined 5km viaduct rail over the road and a cable-stay bridge will be built, linking the Red and Blue lines.
Other infrastructure include signalling, control and communications (SC&C), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, depot and workshop facilities, operations control centre, and training facility for train drivers.
Rolling stock
The rail network will operate with 12-car trains, with more cars added according to demand. The maximum number of cars will, however, be limited to 16 a train.
The 16-car trains will be 352m long and 12-car trains 264m long. The cars will accommodate 300 passengers each.
Signalling and communications
The light rail system will employ the latest train authorisation systems, automatic train protection (ATP) and in-cab signalling in all of its lines.
The wayside equipment will be minimised so that the drivers will not exceed the authorised movement limits.
The ATP will help maintain speed restrictions set on lines. To ensure that the signalling is available during power cuts, a backup power system will be fitted.