NIGERIA: Alstom has signed a letter of intent to work with Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority on the Blue Line metro project. The ‘head of agreement’ was signed when France’s President Macron visited the France-Nigeria Business Forum in the city on July 4, and a definitive contract is expected to be finalised shortly.
Under the agreement, Alstom would support the provision of third rail electrification and substations for Phase 1 of the Blue Line, as well as other engineering works for the Marina – Mile 2 section of the line.
Alstom and the state government then intend to work jointly to structure export credit agency financing for the provision of a control centre, passenger information and ticketing systems for Phase 2 of the line, along with the supply of CBTC for the trainsets which LAMATA is procuring separately.
The 27 km Blue Line is planned to run from Okokomaiko to Marina with 13 stations. Design and build infrastructure contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Co has nearly completed civil works for the 12 km, five-station initial section.
The project is intended to address mobility challenges in the city of 22 million people, stimulate economic growth and job creation while improving the environment and air quality. Ridership is estimated at 400 000 passengers/day, with a capacity of 700 000 passengers/day on completion.
In January 2015 LAMATA ordered 15 trainsets from CRRC Dalian, with an option for 14 more. This replaced an earlier plan to use second hand Toronto metro cars.
‘The Blue Line project is of strategic importance for the city of Lagos as it allows our people to travel safe and fast across longer distances’, said LAMATA Managing Director Abiodun Dabiri. ‘Integration with existing transport systems like our bus or boat lines and future metro lines will largely contribute to our global transport plan for Lagos to reduce traffic congestion and make Lagos a smart city.’
