Lagos has taken delivery of three new train sets made up of 24 coaches for its Red Line rail service, in a move expected to raise passenger capacity and improve service frequency along the busy Oyingbo to Agbado corridor.

The Lagos State Government began offloading the new rolling stock on Tuesday, 10 November, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced. The additional trains are expected to strengthen the Red Line's existing fleet, allowing the state to increase daily services, reduce waiting times and carry more commuters, according to BusinessDay.

Each of the three train sets is formed of eight coaches and can carry up to 2,000 passengers on a single trip, according to the governor. The trains were procured with the support of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu, highlighting cooperation between the federal and state governments in delivering transport infrastructure.

The development was first disclosed by Jubril Gawat, senior special assistant on new media to Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a post on X on Tuesday. "The Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commenced the offloading of three new train sets, comprising 24 coaches, for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line," the post read.

A corridor under pressure

The Red Line currently operates along the Oyingbo, Ebute Metta to Agbado axis, carrying commuters between Lagos and neighbouring Ogun State. The 27-kilometre first phase connects Agbado to Oyingbo, passing through major residential and commercial centres including Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin and Yaba.

The line began passenger operations in October 2024 and provides an alternative to road transport along a corridor where commuters contend with heavy traffic. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), which manages the line, had announced in February 2026 that it planned to add three eight-coach train sets to the Red Line fleet, with daily services expected to rise from nine to 20 in the initial phase.

The state government says it is making progress towards putting the additional trains into passenger service before the end of 2026, giving residents more commuting options on one of the city's busiest routes.

Part of a wider rail expansion

The Red Line is one of six planned light rail projects under the Lagos Rail Mass Transit master plan. Currently only the initial sections of the Red Line and the Blue Line are operational, while construction continues on the final sections of both corridors.

The new trains are the latest step in Lagos's effort to build a mass transit system for a city of more than 20 million people, where road congestion costs commuters hours every day. For the thousands who rely on the Red Line to reach work, school and markets, the extra coaches should mean shorter waits and less crowding on the trains they already use. Sources: BusinessDay and QNC News.