FG Cedes Second Rail Line To LASG For Light Rail Project
The Federal Government has ceded the Second rail line tagged the Down Line linking Iddo Railway Station to Iju Railway Station to the Lagos State Government for the construction of the proposed Light Rail Line from Iddo in Lagos State to Ijoko in Ogun State.
Fielding questions yesterday on the Second Railway Line which has been abandoned for many years, the Lagos District Manager, Nigerian Railway Corporation Engr. Jerry Oche said the Nigerian Railway Corporation has ceded the Second Rail Line to the Lagos State Government to pave way for the construction of the Light Rail Line along the existing railway corridor from Iddo to Ijoko.
According to him, before now the First and Second railway Lines facilitated movement of two different trains running side by side in opposite directions to enter in and out of Lagos respectively without any disruption.
“But currently only the First (i.e. Up Line) is functional thus one out of two trains moving in opposite directions in and out of the City must stop at strategic railway Stations like Ebute-Metta Junction, Mushin, Ikeja, Agege, Agbado and Ijoko for the other to pass before moving ahead.” He said.
Due to the importance attached to the project by the state government he said the technical partners of the project recently conducted inspection of the Second Rail Line.
While commending the efforts of the Lagos State Government in barricading the Mushin to Sogunle axis of the railway corridor within the Lagos Metropolis, Oche noted that the Corporation may not embark on the venture in the short run because the Corporation does not have enough manpower to secure the perimeter fence if it is built.
According to him, already some unknown persons have started to remove the wire barricades used to demarcate the railway line from the roads.
The RDM was however optimistic that when the Lagos State Government Light Rail project as well as the recently commissioned Standard Gauge Railway project from Lagos to Kano commence operations, activities along the railway corridors will increase and people will be compelled to move away from the railway lines.
It is noteworthy that the LASG has since commenced the construction of a Light Rail Line referred to as Blue Line from Mile two to Marina in Lagos Island and the project has reached advanced stage of completion.
The Light Rail Line from Iddo to Ijoko will be constructed along the Red Line.
