In a move to make the first phase of the Federal Capital Territory Light Rail project functional, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken delivery of three coaches for the trial operations. FCTA Transport Secretary, Kayode Opeifa, gave the indication while speaking with journalists recently.
Opeifa said the three ultra-modern coaches that were delivered from China have the capacity for 390 passengers, arrived about the same time with the Kaduna rolling stocks that were launched at the end of last year.
The transport secretary said when the rail service begins full scale operation, between 120,000 and 200,000 passengers would be conveyed daily in the 20 coaches planned in the loop.
Opeifa also reiterated that work on Phase 2 of the Abuja Light Rail Project which begins at Gwagwa and ends in Area 1 would be ramped up this year. This, he said is because the first phase of the project is as good as “a done deal.”
The rail lines would pass from Gwagwa across Jabi, Gwarimpa, Utako, Wuse Hospital and Garki before ending at the Area 1 Park, located behind the former FCT NYSC Secretariat.
Though the present rolling stocks run on diesel, the Phase 2 rolling stock would run on Electric Motor Units (EMUs). This would make it the most modern in West Africa. He pointed out that the project would bring about a major relief to the transportation needs and economic potentials of the City.
The contract for the light rail project is undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) at a cost put at $823 million (about N299 billion).
The total length of the double track rail project segmented into three Lots is 45.245 kilometres.
]]>
