Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has guaranteed citizens of the state that train journeys will be reasonable and accessible once the government’s red line rail project is completed.
On Friday, January 28, the Governor offered the guarantee during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
“We believe that the cost will come down significantly for the citizens (residents),” said the governor. It is not going to be in thousands, … certainly, it is nothing close to that. So, you will still be in your regular N200, N300 per journey and that is what we are looking at.”
“I do not think that they will be breaking their banks. I assure you it will be very affordable and accessible … the fare structure will be (determined by) where you are joining and hopping off, but typically it will not be more than what you are running on your regular BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) lines today.
“For it to be accessible, affordability is really critical for people to want to make it a better option. Yes, you can say now it is quicker, instead of you staying one hour on the road, it is going to take you 20 minutes, 25 minutes,” the governor added.
This comes just a week after the state government revealed that it had purchased two new Talgo 330kmph trains for its Red Line rail project, as part of its attempts to improve traffic management and transportation.
At an occasion conducted within the Milwaukee facilities of Spanish train maker Talgo Incorporated in the United States on January 18, the governor completed the acquisition transaction for the two new high-speed trains.
