What You Should Know About The New Lagos-Ibadan Standard Railway, Also Called Buhari-Train

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On 7th March 2017, the Vice-President, @ProfOsinbajo, in a groundbreaking ceremony, unveiled the standard Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Lagos-Ibadan line is the first part of a new 2,773km Lagos-Kano standard gauge line.

A quick reminder that the Track laying was completed on 28th March 2020, and delivery of rolling stock from CRRC Tangshan was completed in May 2020.

The Lagos-Ibadan rail line is a double-track standard gauge rail, the first of its kind in West Africa. The train covered the 156km journey between Ibadan and Lagos in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

After the official inauguration, travel time will be cut to two hours, according to a statement by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCEC), the project’s contractors.

The Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line will have 10 Stations. Four of the stations are in Lagos State while Ogun State and Oyo State have three stations each.

On 27th July 2020, Pres. @MBuhari approved the naming of the Lagos-Ibadan railway stations.

Ebute Metta Station which is the biggest station of the ten Stations was named after Mobolaji Johnson,

the Apapa Station which will have a hotel and a shopping mall on the premises was named after @AsiwajuTinubu,

the Agege Station was named after @tundefashola,

the Agbado Station was named after Lateef Jakande,

the Kajola Station was named after Vice President, @ProfOsinbajo,

the Abeokuta Station was named after Prof Wole Soyinka,

the Papalanto Station was named after Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti,

Olodo Station was named after Aremo Segun Osoba,

Omio-Adio Station & Moniya station was named after Chief Ladoke Akintola & Chief Obafemi Awolowo respectively.

The Buhari-Led Administration announced to the general public that the Lagos-Ibadan Railway will commence the commercial operations ahead of formal commissioning in Q1 2021.

Since the commencement of the commercial operations, many Nigerians have tried out the brand new standard gauge railway that links Lagos-Ibadan. The new service is operating on a limited schedule with just two trains a day but will expand to 16 daily departures

once construction on stations is complete.

Currently, it is operating with 2 stations, the Mobolaji Johnson Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos State and the Chief Obafemi Awolowo Station, Moniya, Ibadan. There is also 5 minutes stopover at Prof. Wole Soyinka Station, Laderin, Abeokuta.

Travellers with Abeokuta Destination will alight and while those going to Ibadan/Lagos will join the train.

Nigerians who have completed the Lagos-Ibadan journey via the standard gauge rail seemed very pleased and downright excited that Nigeria now has a modern railway.

The train departs from Chief Obafemi Awolowo Station, Moniya, Ibadan at 8AM & arrive Mobolaji Johnson Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos State at 10:41AM while also depart Mobolaji Johnson Station at 4PM & arrive Chief Obafemi Awolowo Station at 6:41PM.

The cost of Ticket price varies, depending on d one d passenger(s) will like to make use of. Available categories are Economy, Business & First Class.

Economy Class ticket is sold at N2,500
Business Class ticket is sold at N5,000
First Class ticket is sold at the rate of N6,000

Presently, the train only provides one coach for the First Class but will be increased in no times when the demand is high.

Furthermore, there are two coaches available for the Business Class.

In the Business and First Class coaches, there are kitchen units with water and coffee dispensers, microwave, refrigerator and also, a small lounge that can be termed a minibar. Although, these services are not currently in operation due to the Global Pandemic.

Once health authorities give the signal that it is safe & allow the use of these services on the train, the Nigerian Railway Corporation authority will allow caterers for d kitchen units. Thus far, the travellers on the First & Business class only make use of the water dispenser.

There are other units on the train which include the medical unit which has medical professionals on the ground, the communication unit which has CCTV monitors, System Control boards.

It is important to note that the cabin crew communicate to the travellers with English and Yoruba Languages.

Many Nigerians have expressed their desire that the Lagos-Ibadan Rail should be called Buhari Train. This was in connection to the fact, critical/popular infrastructures across were named after the leader of the administration who facilitated such project(s).

For example, the popular tricycle in the country is being called Keke Marwa, one of the biggest housing estates in Lagos State is being called Jakande Estate, the Lagos State new BRT Bus is being called Fashola Bus. In the foreign scene, Obama care isn’t left out.

As a Progressive Forum, we commend the @followlasg for providing good road access to the Rail Stations in the state. We also extend our appeal to @OGSG_Official and @Oyostategovt to swing into action and fix all the leading roads to the stations in their respective state.

This will not only help the passengers but will boost the economy of the said areas and the state at large.

The @ThePPForum is indeed happy for Nigerians. Train is a necessity & not a luxury.

We commend & extol President @MBuhari and the Minister of Transportation, @ChibuikeAmaechi for revitalizing the Nigerian railway sector & for seeing this Lagos-Ibadan Rail project through.

It has taken us long to get to this stage. For more than 16years, Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri railway line, Abuja-Kaduna Railway Line and Abuja City Light Rail were abandoned but under the leadership of President @MBuhari, they have all come to life.

It is not over yet, as there are still more to do and achieve. The Federal government should use any means or do whatever is necessary to see the second phase of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line project completed.

That is, the extension of the rail line from Ibadan to Kano, Lagos to Calabar Rail Line and PortHarcout to Maiduguri Rail line.

This will boost the nation’s economy and bring prosperity to the country at large.

IN OUR LIFETIME, NIGERIA WILL BE GREAT.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA.