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Dubai will have tram service in two years

DUBAI — It’ll not only be the Metro that will be zooming through the tracks along Dubai in two years from now. By around the same time, the emirate will also have a tram service.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that the first phase of the ‘Al Sofouh Tram Project’ will be completed by September 2009. Systra, a US-based firm, has been appointed consultants for the project.

Abdulredha, the director of Planning and Design of the Rail Agency, said the tram project would cater to over 220,000 people. “The feasibility study has been completed and the preliminary designs study, which commenced in June this year, is on,” he disclosed.

“Proposed to run from Dubai Marina/Jumeirah Beach via Dubai Media City and Knowledge Village to Madinat Jumeirah, Mall of the Emirates and Burj Al Arab, the tram service will not only be an effective solution to the traffic woes but will also become another major tourist attraction in Dubai,” Abdulredha said.

The official added that construction work for the project would be starting in January 2008, and would take between 21 and 27 months to get completed. “As of now, 19 stations are being planned for the 14-km tram stretch, including three multi-modal interchange stations with the Red Line. These stations will be located at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lake Towers.

The trams will be able to accommodate some 5,200 passengers per hour per direction and will be integrated with the Metro stations as well as the bus network in the emirate.

• UAE