Route 2020 service to begin on May 20, 2020

Dubai - The Metro line will start from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station on the Red Line and extend 15km to the Expo 2020 venue

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the awarding of 'Route 2020' project to a consortium of French, Spanish and Turkish firms at a cost of Dh10.6 billion.
Shaikh Mohammed also directed the immediate start of the 'Route 2020' project or the Red Line extension project that spans 15km from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station up to the location of Dubai Expo 2020.
"Construction works will start in the final quarter of this year," Mattar Al Tayer, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, announced in a Press conference on Wednesday.
"The trial run is expected to start in the last quarter of 2019 and the official operation of the service is set to start in the second half of 2020, on May 20, 2020, five months ahead of the scheduled opening of Expo 2020," added Al Tayer
He added that Route 2020 will not only facilitate the Expo during its six months but will also support the growing communities such as The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates and the Dubai Investment Park. It will also serve Al Maktoum International Airport in future.
"The plan was tailored to achieve sustainability in the project such that the route will link the exhibition yard with several projects and vital communities with high population density of up to 270,000 thousand persons," said Al Tayer.
RTA said the tender released early this year attracted 10 consortiums of major firms specialised in the construction of metro systems worldwide. Five of them have submitted technical and financial proposals, and negotiations were made with two consortiums in the final stage.
"Clear-cut objectives and standards have been set for the technical and financial assessment process during the tendering phase. These standards are based on several parametres including the project construction programme, integration with the existing Dubai Metro systems, design of stations and the use of modern construction techniques. The assessment process was carried out by specialist committees, teams and international consultants involving the participation of 100 specialists from RTA and the project consultant," Al Tayer underlined.
The process concluded with the awarding of the project contract to Expolink Consortium of firms led by the French Alstom, Spanish Acciona, and the Turkish Gulermack.
"According to the contract, Alstom will supply 50 trains: 15 of them for serving Expo, and 35 for upgrading the level of service of the Dubai Metro. The company will also cater to electromechanical works. The French Thales Group will provide the technological systems whereas Acciona and Gulermack will attend to civil works," explained Al Tayer.
With regards to the funding of Route 2020 project, Al Tayer said: "The RTA, in coordination with the finance department of Dubai Government, had asked consortiums to submit elective finance offers during the tender submission stage. Accordingly, the finance department will select the suitable finance model that achieves the present and future financial sustainability of the project."
Meanwhile, Henri Poupart-Lafarge, chairman and CEO of Alstom, said: "Expolink will deliver on time with innovative and sustainable solutions. (We are) personally committed to meeting Dubai's expectations to deliver solutions on time."
angel@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE