Imagine London without the Tube, Washington, DC without Metro, or Boston without the T. Traffic in these busy metropolitan cities would require people to leave their homes at 5:30 am to get to their offices by 8:00. That is exactly the situation in Lagos, Nigeria, one of the world’s fastest growing – and most congested – cities in the world.
With a population of over 12 million, Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial capital, expected to surpass Cairo as Africa’s biggest city in the next five years. Yet, the simplest journey there is anything but. The morning traffic is so badly snarled that the streets themselves have become marketplaces for selling everything from socks to phone chargers.
The solution? A reliable mass transit system with the ability to move large groups of people quickly, safely, cleanly, and comfortably.
And here’s the surprise: such a system is actually under construction.
The Lagos State Government is building one of the largest transport projects on the African continent and will become West Africa’s first railway with the potential to transform daily life for millions of people and contribute to the continued expansion and development of the city.
Rail systems are faster, safer, and more reliable than most other forms of transportation. Buses and bus lanes, which have been tried, are simply not enough to alleviate the massive traffic problems in Lagos.
As Nigeria’s population migrates from rural areas in search of better economic opportunities, urban expansion – HUGE urban expansion – has become one of the biggest challenges the nation faces. And like in any city, time is money. Rail is on track save commuters two to four hours each day just in travel time alone – even with Lagos’ gigantic growth – thereby significantly increasing productivity and benefiting the Lagos economy tremendously.
Trains will be powered by environmentally -friendly electricity rather than diesel. Electric trains have a vastly reduced carbon footprint, cost less to operate, and offer the fastest journeys and highest reliability. But to power an electric railway, a reliable electricity supply is essential, so plans for an independent power generation and distribution facility are well underway. Once completed, the excess electricity from this facility will be diverted to benefit local communities.
Eventually, the rail system will consist of seven lines; today, the first is well underway. The Blue Line traverses 17 miles from Lagos Mainland to Okokomaiko. This line will have the potential to carry more than half a million passengers per day – helping to eliminate some of the gridlock on the city’s overcrowded roadways.
Use of the latest “Chip Card” ticketing system technology will reduce lines with prepaid ticketing and provide discounted fares to frequent riders, senior citizens, students and children. Real time electronic displays on the platforms will provide clear route and service information for the trains, which will operate 18 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Once operational, the Lagos rail transportation system will be a first-rate, environmentally-sustainable transit system with the ability to provide millions of passengers with convenient, safe and efficient transportation while at the same time reducing road congestion and generating higher revenues for the growing city of Lagos.
Today, it costs more money and time to transport a shipping container 330 miles (540 km) from Lagos to the Nigerian capital of Abuja than it does to ship the same container from the People’s Republic of China to Lagos. Rail can change that.
The future of Nigeria and all of West Africa may well depend on improved transportation. Rail is at the heart of that transition.
The author is leading an international consortium—Eko Rail—working to deliver much-needed rail transit service to Lagos.
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Transformational Rail Project On Track for Lagos
February 27, 2011
Imagine London without the Tube, Washington, DC without Metro, or Boston without the T. Traffic in these busy metropolitan cities would require people to leave their homes at 5:30 am to get to their offices by 8:00. That is exactly the situation in Lagos, Nigeria, one of the world’s fastest growing – and most congested – cities in the world.
With a population of over 12 million, Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial capital, expected to surpass Cairo as Africa’s biggest city in the next five years. Yet, the simplest journey there is anything but. The morning traffic is so badly snarled that the streets themselves have become marketplaces for selling everything from socks to phone chargers.
The solution? A reliable mass transit system with the ability to move large groups of people quickly, safely, cleanly, and comfortably.
And here’s the surprise: such a system is actually under construction.
The Lagos State Government is building one of the largest transport projects on the African continent and will become West Africa’s first railway with the potential to transform daily life for millions of people and contribute to the continued expansion and development of the city.
Rail systems are faster, safer, and more reliable than most other forms of transportation. Buses and bus lanes, which have been tried, are simply not enough to alleviate the massive traffic problems in Lagos.
As Nigeria’s population migrates from rural areas in search of better economic opportunities, urban expansion – HUGE urban expansion – has become one of the biggest challenges the nation faces. And like in any city, time is money. Rail is on track save commuters two to four hours each day just in travel time alone – even with Lagos’ gigantic growth – thereby significantly increasing productivity and benefiting the Lagos economy tremendously.
Trains will be powered by environmentally -friendly electricity rather than diesel. Electric trains have a vastly reduced carbon footprint, cost less to operate, and offer the fastest journeys and highest reliability. But to power an electric railway, a reliable electricity supply is essential, so plans for an independent power generation and distribution facility are well underway. Once completed, the excess electricity from this facility will be diverted to benefit local communities.
Eventually, the rail system will consist of seven lines; today, the first is well underway. The Blue Line traverses 17 miles from Lagos Mainland to Okokomaiko. This line will have the potential to carry more than half a million passengers per day – helping to eliminate some of the gridlock on the city’s overcrowded roadways.
Use of the latest “Chip Card” ticketing system technology will reduce lines with prepaid ticketing and provide discounted fares to frequent riders, senior citizens, students and children. Real time electronic displays on the platforms will provide clear route and service information for the trains, which will operate 18 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Once operational, the Lagos rail transportation system will be a first-rate, environmentally-sustainable transit system with the ability to provide millions of passengers with convenient, safe and efficient transportation while at the same time reducing road congestion and generating higher revenues for the growing city of Lagos.
Today, it costs more money and time to transport a shipping container 330 miles (540 km) from Lagos to the Nigerian capital of Abuja than it does to ship the same container from the People’s Republic of China to Lagos. Rail can change that.
The future of Nigeria and all of West Africa may well depend on improved transportation. Rail is at the heart of that transition.
The author is leading an international consortium—Eko Rail—working to deliver much-needed rail transit service to Lagos.
