The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced plans to expand the fleet of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line with the addition of three new eight-coach trains by the third quarter of 2026.
This move is aimed at boosting capacity and improving commuter experience along the busy corridor.
The disclosure was made on Wednesday by LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, amid growing concerns from passengers over technical issues affecting some coaches operating on the Oyingbo–Agbado route.
According to the agency, the new acquisition will comprise three train sets, each made up of eight coaches, bringing a total of 24 additional coaches to the existing Red Line fleet.
The move is part of a long-term strategy designed to enhance capacity, improve passenger comfort, and strengthen service reliability on the corridor.
“As part of our long-term strategy to enhance capacity, comfort, and service reliability, LAMATA is pleased to announce the expected delivery and operationalisation of additional rolling stock by the third quarter of 2026,” Ojelabi said in a statement.
He noted that the additional rolling stock would significantly expand the fleet and improve overall passenger experience across the Red Line corridor, which has witnessed increasing ridership since full commercial operations began.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of recent complaints by commuters, amplified on social media, over malfunctioning air-conditioning systems in some coaches on the Oyingbo–Agbado service.
Videos circulating online showed passengers enduring intense heat during peak-hour trips, sparking public criticism.
LAMATA acknowledged the inconvenience and apologised to affected commuters. The authority disclosed that its technical and engineering teams have been deployed to diagnose and resolve the root cause of the cooling system failures.
Restoration works are currently ongoing, with efforts intensified to return the affected coaches to optimal operating condition as swiftly as possible.
The agency reiterated its commitment to proactive maintenance and operational improvements to minimise disruptions and ensure consistent service delivery.
The Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line, which spans 27 kilometres from Oyingbo in Lagos to Agbado in Ogun State, commenced full fee-paying passenger operations on October 15, 2024. The first phase of the project was earlier commissioned on February 29, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu.
The Red Line is one of six proposed corridors under the Lagos Rail Mass Transit master plan, designed to transform urban mobility in Africa’s most populous city.
At present, only initial sections of the Red Line and the Blue Line are operational, while construction continues on the remaining segments.
As part of the state government’s phased rail expansion strategy, construction is expected to commence soon on the Green Line corridor.
In January 2025, the Lagos State Government also announced that six new trains from China had successfully passed factory acceptance tests and were set for delivery to enhance operations on both the Blue and Red Lines.
With the planned addition of 24 coaches by 2026, transport authorities say the Red Line is poised for a significant capacity boost, offering relief to thousands of daily commuters and reinforcing Lagos State’s ambition to build a modern, integrated rail network.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority plans to add three new eight-coach trains—24 additional coaches in total—to the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line by the third quarter of 2026, a major capacity boost aimed at easing passenger discomfort and improving service reliability along the corridor.
