Light rail project in Lagos: Blue

line achievement, business model and

mobility impact
A Presentation at the
3rd Congress and Exhibition of African Public Transport
Session 6:RAIL TRANSPORT AND URBAN MOBILITY
Presented by: Dr Dayo Mobereola
MD/CEO, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA )

Perceptions on Transport (1)

The problem of Africa can be summed up in one word

TRANSPORT .
(Lord Luggard )

Perception of Transport (2)

While the great powers are trying to get to the moon,
we are trying to get to the village ...
While the great powers have been to the moon and
back and are now even communicating with the stars
...

We are still trying to reach the village and the village is

getting even more remote ..
Hon. Julius Nyerere

Overview of Presentation
o Introduction
o Transport Challenges in Lagos
o Blue Line Project
o The Blue Line Implementation
Strategy
o Blue line achievement
o Mobility impact
o Conclusions

Lagos The Mega City

Most populous city in Africa - 20 million inhabitants

Lagos State is bigger in population than 23 countries in Africa

Benin Rep, Mali, Botswana etc.

Hub of nations economic, commercial and industrial activities.

Contribute 25% of Nigerias GDP

Larger economy than Ivory coast, Ghana, Madagascar etc.

45% of nations skilled manpower reside in the city.

Transport Challenges in Lagos State

Pattern of urban growth

with the less privileged
often commuting long
distances

Severe congestion impacting social and

economic activities

Key Concerns

Inadequate regulatory public

transport framework with
the poor often vulnerable to
high cost of transportation
6

The poor are

the worst
affected!!!

Increasing air pollution

impacting health and
quality of life

Observed travel demand patterns in

Metropolitan Lagos in 2013
The demand for trips in the
Lagos megacity region by all
modes (including walking) was
~22million per day.

Walk trips accounted for 40%

of total trips in Metropolitan
Lagos.

Observed mode share of motorized trips

in 2013
2% 2%
2%

2% 1%

Unregulated
buses
Cars

19%
72%

The rapid increase in

population and standard of
living will bring the daily
demand for trips to ~40M/day
by 2032.

Regulated
buses
BRT

Motorcycles
Water
Rail

Source: LAMATA Strategic Transport Master Plan

7

Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP)

In response to the enormous Transport Challenges in Lagos state, the Strategic

Transport Master Plan (STMP) was developed to address these issues.

Light Rail Mass Transit Plan for Lagos

LAMATA has proposed a light rail network for

Lagos State in its 20 years Strategic Transport
Master Plan

It comprises of six light rail and one monorail mass

transit corridors.

The development of the rail routes will be carried

out in phases and stages over a period of two
decades.

LAMATA commenced the development of the first

line (Blue rail Line) in August 2010

Proposed Lagos Rail Network

10

The Blue Rail Line Project

Okokomaiko Marina, 27km

11 Rail Stations planned for the Blue line

11

Objectives of the Blue Line Rail Project

Regenerate the Okokomaiko and Mile 2 area with

the attraction of Transit Oriented Development
(TOD)

Provide better integration with public transport

allowing passengers to transfer between the Blue
Line and a number of bus routes as well as water
mode of transport

Improve public transport access and connections

along the blue line corridor and the main Central
Business District (CBD)

Key Features of the Blue Line

The Blue Line will run 27km from Okokomaiko to Marina,

one of the most densely travelled corridors in Lagos.

The rail infrastructure is being developed in conjunction

with the Badagry Expressway project, a proposed toll road
running from Lagos to Badagry.

The Blue line runs at-grade in the middle of Lagos Badagry

Expressway (LBE) from Okokomaiko to Iganmu (19.6km)
and elevated from Iganmu to Marina (7.4km) thereby
crossing major and minor roads, marshland and water areas

Key features of the Blue Line Contd

Operation centre, maintenance depot and stabling of

trains is situated at Okokomaiko

The Blue line will be serviced by 16 4-car EMU trains

Total passenger/day is 450,000 on average at inception

Maximum headway during peak operations is 5 minutes

Total journey time spent on the Blue line from Okokomaiko

to Marina will be 37 minutes

Construction Phase of the Blue Line Rail Project

The blue line is being constructed in three phases

The first phase from Mile 2 to National Theatre is

7.5 km long and is 95% complete

The second Phase from National Theatre to Marina

which is 5 km and crossing the Lagoon has started
and is expected to be completed in September 2015

The third and final phase of the project from

Okokomaiko to Mile 2 will begin after the
completion of the Lagos-Badagry road expansion
project

Blue Line Construction Phasing

Phase 3
National Theatre
Okokomaiko

Volkswagen

LASU

Alaba
Alakija

Trade
Fair

Iganmu Ijora

Festac

Mile 2

Phase 1: Mile 2 National Theatre (4 stations)

Phase 2: National Theatre Marina (1 station)

Phase 3: Okokomaiko Mile 2 (6 stations)

Marina

Blue Line Operations Phasing

National Theatre

Okokomaiko

Alaba
Volkswagen

LASU

Alakija

Trade
Fair

Iganmu
Festac

Ijora

Mile 2

Phase 2

Marina

Phase 1: Passenger service between Mile 2 Marina

(12.5km route), 5 stations

Phase 2: Passenger service on the full line from

Okokomaiko - Marina (27km route), 11 stations

Project Implementation

LSG
Funding

Concessionaire
Funding

Concessionaires Responsibilities

Procurement of rolling stock

Procurement of signaling and communication

equipment

Recruitment and training of train drivers

Operations of the Blue Line

Maintenance of the infrastructure and rolling stock

Lagos State Responsibilities

Provide funding for infrastructures such as the Rail

Track and Bridges

Ensure Right of Way (ROW) is secured for the

contractor

Business Case for the Blue Line

INDICATORS

Operating Saving Benefit, NPV (M US$)

Time Saving Benefit, NPV (M US$)
Car accidents, NPV (M US$)

VALUE

204.72
2,068.40
19.82

Investment Cost (M US$)

1,037.58

Total present value, NPV (M US$)

2,292.94

Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.21

Total Passengers (2016) Daily

450,000

Total Passengers (2030) Daily

850,000

This represent good value for money

Achievements so far

Blue Line Achievement

Infrastructure

Creation of
Jobs

Operations

Blue line
achievement
New
development

Financial

Technical

Regulatory

Blue Line Achievements (1)

Infrastructure

Operation

Construction of 4 stations (Mile 2, Alaba,

Iganmu and National Theatre) nearing
completion
Installation of rail track
Construction of rail bridges

Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) specification

agreed
Discussion with preferred Concessionaire
Standards for LRMT set e.g. train specification
and gauge

Blue Line Achievements (2)

Financial

Regulatory

Project support through BOND scheme on a

major infrastructural project
Use of Public Private Partnership (PPP) model
Adequate and timely payments to the
contractor

Strict compliance with best rail engineering

construction process
Defined role between the government and
concessionaire in the operations of the mass
transit.

Blue Line Achievements (3)

Technical

New
Development

Creation of
Jobs

Technical and knowledge transfer to Nigerians and

capacity building

The Blue line project has facilitated the Badagry

Master Plan development and Implementation

Implementation of Lagos Island Master Plan is

being developed in relation with Blue line

The Blue line project has generated over 2000

(Direct and Indirect) jobs

Blue Line Achievements in Pictures

Creation
of Jobs

Front Elevation View of Alaba Station

28

Present View of Iganmu Station

Progress on the Rail Project

30

National Theatre Station

Station Platform Area

Finished Station Concourse

Mobility Impact

Mobility Impact

Reduction of Fares

Reduction of Travel
time
Reduction in Waiting
time

Job Generation
Reduction in air
pollution

Mobility Impact

Economic Impact

Reduction in travel time from over 2 hours to 37 mins

Reduction in cost from $3 to a dollar

Reduction in waiting time from over 30 mins to 5 mins

Social Impact

Generation of over 2000 employment (Direct and Indirect)

Improved accessibility to the central business district

Environmental Impact

Reduction in air pollution along the corridor by 25%

Conclusions
o The Blue Line is one of the 6 rail lines identified in the master plan
to alleviate transport problems in Lagos state

o The rail line will open up Badagry corridor thereby improving access
to more jobs and economic activities
o The Blue Line will generate huge economic benefits which
represent good value for money to the public.

Thank You