The Lagos State government says two sets of Electric Motor Unit (EMU) coaches bought for the Blue Line operations would arrive in Lagos from China in October.
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made the disclosure at the flag off the engineering procedure for the launch of the last track beam (T-beam) of the rail line at the Marina station site.
He said: “Today’s final T-beam launch indicates that we are gradually inching to the completion of the civil infrastructure for the first phase of the Blue Line traversing from Mile 2 to Marina.”
The governor also said the rail line would be test-run immediately after completion with passenger movement commencing in the first quarter of 2023.
The governor committed the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the contractor to the December deadline for completion of the 27-kilometre Lagos Blue Line Rail Mass Transit project.
With the laying of the final T-Beam, key civil works which started in 2012 have been overcome as the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) would proceed with setting the rail tracks.
The Blue Line, which traverses between Mile 2 and Marina, will be operated on EMU while the 37km Red Line, from Agbado to Ebute Metta, will operate on Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
CCECC chairman, Mr Liu Wei Min, assured that the company will continue to work to meet the ultimate target of delivering the entire project with high standards and quality.