4-hour Dubai Metro glitch throws life off track for commuters

Dubai - The services were suspended at only the Sharaf DG station around 9am.

Crowds outside multiple Metro stations; cabs queueing up; packed buses: These were the scenes in Dubai on Wednesday morning as the city came to a standstill after a technical glitch led to suspension of services at some stations. The four-hour disruption highlighted just how popular this mode of transport is among Dubai residents as they scampered for alternative means to get to their destinations.
Initially, the services were suspended at only the Sharaf DG station around 9am, but the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) later confirmed that four nearby stations - Noor Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Internet City - were also affected. Feeder bus services were deployed at all the affected stations to transport the travellers to their respective destinations.
Announcements were made while the passengers were in the train and they were asked to disembark at the next station and take the feeder buses.
Filipino national Kareen M, who has been using the Metro for the last four years, said she was travelling from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali when she heard the announcement at the Business Bay station. "The RTA and Dubai Police guided us where to go. Although my destination was just one station away, I am so used to the Metro that I kept waiting for the services to resume. This is the most comfortable, convenient and fast way to work and it's hard to imagine life without it - even for a few minutes."
The services resumed around 1.30pm.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com