Lagos expands blue line services to 94 trips daily

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The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced an enhancement of services on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line, increasing the number of daily train trips from 90 to 94 and introducing a new 6:00 a.m. departure time for weekday and Saturday operations.

The update was made public in a statement shared on Tuesday by Oluwaseun Osiyemi through his official X account.

According to the release, the revised schedule will take effect on June 15, 2026, and is designed to improve commuter experience by shortening wait times, enhancing convenience, and catering to the growing number of passengers using the rail service.

“LAMATA has announced a major enhancement to the Lagos Rail Mass Transit, Blue Line service, increasing daily train operations from 90 to 94 trips and shifting the start of weekday and Saturday services to 6:00 AM from the previous 6:30 AM,” the statement said.

The transport authority noted that the new schedule would allow commuters to begin their journeys earlier and avoid peak-hour road traffic.

“The revised timetable, effective Monday, June 15, 2026, is designed to improve passenger convenience, reduce waiting times, and accommodate the growing number of commuters who rely on the rail corridor for faster, more reliable transportation,” it stated.

Providing details of the changes, LAMATA said, “Under the new schedule, trains will begin operations 30 minutes earlier from Monday to Saturday, enabling thousands of commuters to start their journeys ahead of peak road traffic.”

It added that “while the service will continue to close at 9:30 PM, the increase to 94 daily trips is expected to further ease platform congestion and improve travel efficiency.”

The authority also announced improvements to Sunday operations, saying, “Sunday operations also received a boost, increasing from 22 to 24 trips, with trains running at consistent 30-minute intervals throughout the operational period, offering passengers greater predictability and convenience.”

LAMATA attributed the service expansion to increasing passenger demand on the Blue Line, which has witnessed significant patronage since commercial operations began in September 2023.

“The latest upgrade reflects the growing popularity of the Blue Line since passenger operations commenced on September 4, 2023,” the statement said.

Highlighting the rail system’s impact on transportation in Lagos, the authority noted that, “Since launch, the rail system has transported more than six million passengers, underscoring its critical role in transforming urban mobility and reducing travel times across the city.”

The expansion marks the latest effort by the Lagos State Government to improve mass transit infrastructure and provide commuters with more reliable transportation options as demand for rail services continues to rise.