Mechanical Failure Grounds New Red Line Train Services Indefinitely

Barely two months of operations after its much-anticipated launch, the newly Red Line Mass Transit Train Service (LRMT) may have been suspended indefinitely due to a significant mechanical fault.

The train service, which had generated excitement and promises of improved transportation, has been grounded, leaving passengers stranded and raising concerns about the reliability of the infrastructure despite its high fixed fare.

Recall, Business Remarks reported the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line train officially commenced full passenger operations on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, starting at 6:00 AM from Agbado.

Passengers have also expressed concerns about the high cost of the train service, which they argue is significantly higher than traditional transportation options. This has led to concerns that the service is not accessible to the average citizen, negating the government’s responsibility to provide affordable and efficient public transportation, Business Remarks findings revealed.

Reports revealed that the operations of the train service ran into troubled waters last week. Many passengers observed mechanical failure on the morning belt of the train service last Monday.

A passenger, who preferred anonymity that boarded the train from Iju, said they had been told the train had developed a mechanical fault and when they got to Mushin, all passengers were instructed to disembark, as the train could no longer move.

Another passenger, Emmanuel Ajadi, said he was turned back at Agege Train Station last Tuesday by station workers, who said the train was not in operation.

Same day, operators of the Red Line train service had in a terse chat posted on the LRMT WhatsApp  channel created same day, indicated that the break would affect only the morning belt, saying the afternoon belt would still run.

Also Read: Red Line Passengers Express Concerns Over Fare Prices

On the Whatsapp Channel, which was deleted by the operator last Friday, it was stated: “Please note that only the 5:20pm and 6:50pm train from Oyingbo and 6:40pm train from Agbado will run today.” Checks revealed that both services pledged for that evening never ran.

By 9:19pm same Tuesday, the operator confirmed it wasn’t able to operate as promised when it sent the chat: “We sincerely apologise for the cancellation of service this evening, which was due to mechanical faults. Kindly note that the train will not be operating tomorrow, and until further notice. We deeply regret this situation.”

The Red Line began commercial operation on October 15, eight months after it was inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 29.

The service took off with two services at the morning and two at evening peaks, culminating in four shuttles per day, which it intends to upscale as operations improve on the corridor, which is projected to be a major cash cow with the huge population of passengers transiting from Agbado to Oyingbo.

Checks indicated that the train service had until the suspension of operation due to mechanical failure been running at below optimal carriage capacity, as many have complained about the high cost of trips, put end-to-end at N1500 per trip (from Oyingbo-Agbado or from Agbado-Oyingbo), while the narrow gauge train operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation on the same corridor for the same trip costs N750.

The Red Line, which started commercial operation on its 27km first phase, was operated by First Metro, under the guide of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). The service is projected to carrying about 500,000 passenger daily and about 1.5 million daily at the completion of the second phase, which will see the service terminate at Onikan, from where it will join the state’s premier mass transit, the Lagos Blue Line.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had while launching its operation assured Lagosians of timely service on the train, as travel time would be reduced to between 30 to 45 minutes end-to-end.

He said the 25 per cent rebate regime on public transportation announced by the government would also be observed on the train.