First Test of Monorail on Track

The high-tech trains arrived from Hitachi Ltd in Japan during the weekend.

The company is well known for starting Japan’s high speed Bullet Train. The two trains for the tests were raised on to the 5.45km long track on Palm Jumeirah, and are now making initial test journeys.

The process is being closely monitored by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the operators SMRT Engineering (SMRTE). Tests on the trains will be carried out for the next six months before the monorail is opened to the public in April next year.

The new system will carry thousands of passengers each day between Gateway Station at the trunk of Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis’ Aquaventure Station.

The system will ultimately be connected to the Dubai Metro following the introduction of RTA’s Al Sufouh tramline, with direct links to Dubai Airport and other major transport hubs.