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Touch and Pay Technologies is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest innovation, “The Blue  Rail.”. This revolutionary product is being designed by the Lagos State Transport System, which has designed and implemented the new electronic buses which run from the following locations such as Oshodi, Festac, Okokomaiko, Obalende, and Ikorodu.

 Cowry is the Lagos state mass transit payment partner with the Lagos state transport authority "LAMATA", which provides a contactless means of payment for public transportation in Lagos state. With its mission of connecting Lagosians with people and places they care about by providing safe, accessible, reliable, and accountable fare collection services. It aims at creating financial inclusion through its coverage across all geographical boundaries and showcasing growth by helping our customers grow in microtransactions. 

The construction of the 13 km Lagos Blue Line Rail Phase 1 Scheme (Marina-Mile2) infrastructure is slated to be finished on Wednesday, with testing taking place between then and the line's full operationalization in the first quarter of 2023. In conjunction with the start of the second phase in January 2023, there will be an official opening.

The Blue Rail train transport system runs 27 kilometers (17 miles) from Okokomaiko to Lagos Marina, with 13 stations and an end-to-end journey of 35 minutes. The Blue Line operates over a secure exclusive right-of-way with no level crossings and no uncontrolled access by pedestrians or vehicles. The route will run on the surface in the central reservation of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway between Igbo-Elerin Road (Okokomaiko) and Iganmu. 

The line will then be elevated from Iganmu along the south side of the expressway, passing the junction with Eric Moore Road, crossing just south of the National Theatre to Iddo, then south to Lagos Island, with a terminal at Marina. A Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) will be constructed at Okokomaiko, with a track connection from the Blue Line to the depot.

On December 21st, 2022, the first phase was made testable. From Lagos Marina to Mile 2, this phase is 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) long. Lagos Marina, the National Theatre, Orile Iganmu, Suru Alaba, and Mile 2 are the five (5) stations that will open. Before the route is made available to passengers, it will go through testing in December 2022 and January 2023. Passenger operations have not yet begun as of July 2023.

The Blue train line would be opened to passengers on the 30th August, 2023.


Features of the Blue Rail Train line 

-It transports 250,000 passengers daily and, when completed, the entire 27km will transport about 500,000 passengers daily.

-Each train comprises four coaches, and each coach can comfortably take up to 180 passengers.

-It is located at planned stations, including Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Sogunle, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute Metta, and Iddo, all of which have connections to the domestic and international terminals of Murtala Muhammed Airport.

“This milestone in the development of the Lagos rail mass transit is the culmination of several impactful reforms in the transport ecosystem of Lagos State, starting in 1999, the dawn of the fourth republic, when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu assumed office as governor, said Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday during the first passenger trip.

He further explained, “Our vision for an integrated transport system is enunciated in the Traffic Management and Transportation pillar of our T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda. Our transportation strategy is a multimodal one, bringing together the various elements of the road, rail, and water, and ensuring they are seamlessly integrated.

The benefits of this product includes;
-It offers offline, seamless, and convenient payments. 
-Swift and Comfortable rides to various destinations.
-Availability to accommodate a maximum of 180 passengers.
-Well-trained and professional coaches for rides.


According to Sanwo Olu, "With the Cowry Card, we already have over 4 million citizens with the Cowry cards, and the cards may be used on the train, on our buses, BRT, as well as the ferry service.



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Introducing The Blue Rail: Digitalizing the Lagos State Transport System

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