The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has officially revealed the fare structure for the Lagos Red Line, with full passenger operations commencing on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
The first phase of the Red Line, a 27-kilometre rail project linking Oyingbo in Lagos to Agbado in Ogun State, is expected to ease traffic congestion while providing commuters with a faster, more reliable transport option between Agbado, Ikeja, Oshodi, and Lagos Island.
LAMATA shared the fare structure via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, announcing the fare for the complete journey from Oyingbo to Agbado as N1,500.
As with other regulated transport systems in Lagos, payments will be made solely through the Cowry Card, with cash transactions not permitted.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will lead the launch of the Red Line’s passenger services, accompanied by members of his executive council and other notable figures. The event will include a ceremonial ride with commuters on the first fare-paying trip, marking the formal start of regular services.
Daily train operations on the Red Line will begin at 6:00 am from Agbado. To facilitate travel to Lagos Island, bus connections will be available at the Oyingbo bus terminal, ensuring a smooth journey for commuters.
What you should know
The Red Line is a 37-kilometre rail project, with its first phase covering 27 kilometres from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo, Lagos. This phase features eight strategically located stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo. Construction of the Red Line began on April 15, 2021, and the first phase was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on February 29, 2024.
After a successful six-week trial, partial invitational passenger services were conducted between August 28 and September 27, 2024.
The Red Line operates under a track-sharing agreement with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), using the same tracks as the Lagos-Ibadan route—a partnership established during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently stated that once the Red Line is fully operational, following the completion of its second phase, it will run 20 daily trips and transport up to 500,000 passengers per day, greatly enhancing transportation for Lagos residents.
Recently, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) granted Lagos State a six-month temporary license for the Red Line after testing its pre-operational capacity, with permanent approval dependent on further evaluations.
