From today: 11 trams, 11 stations and 11 kilometres

A new jewel in Dubai’s crown, the Dubai Tram will be inaugurated today (11.11.14). An initial fleet of 11 trams, across 11 stations will cover a distance of almost 11 kilometres

The much anticipated and the newest addition to the public transport system in the Emirate, the Dubai Tram is here. The brainchild of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Tram, which stretches in the first stage 10.6 km and spans 11 stations dotting densely populated and activity areas, will open to the public on Wednesday, November 12.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: “The Dubai Tram is a brainchild of Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His vision was to provide an advanced transit system that serves the JBR, Marina and Al Sufouh.”

With an operational contract worth Dhs105 million, the Tram is expected to serve about 27,000 riders at the start of operations in 2014 and the ridership is anticipated to hit about 66,000 riders by 2020. Speaking about the genesis of the Tram, Al Tayer said: “In September 2013, RTA signed the Dubai Tram operation contract with British firm Serco. The company was contracted for 75 months, starting from August 2013, including 15 months for operation preparation where Emirati staff were appointed and trained; ending with a five-year operation period.” The project’s construction contractor (Alstom and Besix Consortium) will be responsible for tram system maintenance for a period of 13 years, renewable for an additional five years.

However, the reach of the tram will eventually expand an additional 4 kilometres. “The second phase of the Dubai Tram will extend to 14.6 km, spanning 17 stations. Fourteen trams will be added in the second stage to bring the total to 25 trams,” said Al Tayer. The Chairman said that the tram aims to improve the mobility within Dubai in general and areas of tourist and economic importance served by the tramway in particular.

Improvement works have been made in the roads parallel to the tram track across all districts, including 24 signalised junctions within the network. The tram minimizes carbon emissions, sustaining the environment.

Al Tayer said: “The tram aims to improve the mobility within areas of tourist and economic importance, served by the tramway in particular. It also contributes to boosting the integrated public transport systems in the Emirate, providing a smooth, handy and highly efficient transit experience within communities characterised by business and tourist importance in the city of Dubai.”

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.comm

Design

The design concept of the tram is unique as it was inspired by the shape of a jewel. This distinct jewel profile can be seen in the front end of the train, providing an extended pattern along the train from the exterior and reflecting on the interior as well where one can notice that the seats and the ceilings also share that shape and pattern.