TheCable

Commercial operations have kicked off on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line.

This comes three years after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on March 7, 2017.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to formally commission the project in the first quarter of 2021.

Tolu Ogunlesi, a presidential aide, quotes the National Railway Corporation as saying the rail line will conduct only one return trip daily for now.

“Commercial operations started on the new #LagosIbadanRail line this morning, Monday, December 7, 2020. For now, according to the NRC, only one return trip daily, leaving Ibadan at 8am for Lagos and leaving Lagos for Ibadan at 4pm,” Ogunlesi tweeted.

“Speed and capacity will increase with time. Keep in mind there’s still some construction work ongoing (Station buildings etc).

“Also likely won’t hit maximum speeds until the line fencing is completed. (Sadly because of some Lagosians’ love for rail-line merchandising)

“The launch train for #LagosIbadanRail commercial operations left Ibadan at 0800hrs this morning, arrived Abeokuta 0858, and departed Abeokuta 0903. It has just arrived Ebute Metta, Lagos, at 1040hrs.

“For now, it’s doing 30-40km/hr in Lagos metropolis.”

Commercial operations started on the new #LagosIbadanRail line this morning, Monday Dec 7, 2020. For now, according to the NRC, only one return trip daily, leaving Ibadan at 8am for Lagos and leaving Lagos for Ibadan at 4pm.

— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) December 7, 2020

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TheCable reported on Friday that tickets on the rail line will cost N3,000 for economy and N6,000 for first class.