Africa's 'monumental' £1.1bn railway project set to transform fortunes of megacity

The rail network will have seven lines (Image: Getty)

One of Africa's most populous cities is currently engaged in a major rail project it hopes will transform urban mobility for its residents and the surrounding region.

Lagos has a population of just over 16.5 million people and covers an area 452.23 square miles.

It is currently the beneficiary of a huge investment to build a new transport system known as the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT).

When fully completed, the new commuter railway will have seven lines - Blue, Red, Orange, Brown, Purple, Green and Yellow - and be able to move about 500,000 people daily.

Rail tracks for the blue line of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit at Marina Station (Image: Getty)

The development is being partly sponsored by the Lagos State Government, who have appointed the China Civil Engineering Construction Company as the contractor.

The Blue Line was opened in September last year and is 27 kilometres long, connecting Okokomaiko to Marina.

This March, the 30km Red Line running between Marina and Agbado began operations amid much fanfare.

Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the opening marked a “monumental leap” for the city.

“Together, we’re not just moving forward", he said. "We’re redefining urban transformation across Africa."

Contactless payment terminals at fare gates (Image: Getty)

The first two lines of the urban light rail project are estimated to cost US$1.4 billion (£1.1bn).

The Red and Blue lines will have 13 stations each, making a grand total of 26.

Three stations at the south end of the Red line will be shared with the Blue line.

The stations will all have island-style platforms and commuter payment systems.

Public address and electronic information screens will also be installed at each station.

The urban rail network is anticipated to operate with 12-carriage trains, with more added according to demand.

The maximum number of carriages will, however, be limited to 16 per train.

The 16-carriage trains will be 352m long and the 12-carriage trains 264m long. Each of the cars will be able to hold up to 300 passengers.