Dubai Metro

Dubai Metro
Overview
Native name مترو دبي
Owner Roads and Transport Authority (Dubai)
Locale Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Transit type Rapid transit
Number of lines 2
(3 proposed)
Number of stations 49 (29 on red line, 20 on green line)
Daily ridership 455,000[1]
Annual ridership 164,000,000
Operation
Began operation 9 September 2009
Operator(s) Serco Group
Technical
System length 74.6 km (46.4 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification Third rail, 750 V DC[2]

The Dubai Metro (Arabic: مترو دبي‎) is a driverless, fully automated metro rail network in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Red Line and Green Line are operational, with three further lines planned. These first two lines run underground in the city centre and on elevated viaducts elsewhere (elevated railway).[3] All trains and stations are air conditioned with platform edge doors to make this possible.

The first section of the Red Line, covering 10 stations, was ceremonially inaugurated at 9:09:09 pm on 9 September 2009, by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai,[4] with the line opening to the public at 6 am (UTC 04:00) on 10 September.[5] The Dubai Metro is the first urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula[6] and either the second in the Arab World (after the Cairo Metro) or the third (if the surface-level, limited-service Baghdad Metro is counted). More than 110,000 people, which is nearly 10 per cent of Dubai’s population, used the Metro in its first two days of operation.[7] The Dubai Metro carried 10 million passengers from launch on 9 September 2009 to 9 February 2010 with 11 stations operational on the Red Line.[8] Engineering consultancy Atkins provided full multidisciplinary design and management of the civil works on Dubai Metro. Architecture firm Aedas were the architect who designed for Dubai system's 45 stations, two depots and operational control centres.[9] The construction of the Dubai Metro was undertaken by Al Ghurair Investment group.[10]

A major expansion of the Red Line to add 15 kilometres of track and extend it from Ibn Battuta to the Expo 2020 site was announced in April 2015.[11]

Guinness World Records has declared Dubai Metro to be the world's longest fully automated metro network with a route length of 75 kilometres (47 mi).[12]

Construction

Jebel Ali Free Zone station under construction in May 2008
Ibn Battuta Mall station on the Red line

Planning of the Dubai Metro began under the directive of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who expected other projects to attract 15 million visitors to Dubai by 2010. The combination of a rapidly growing population (expected to reach 3 million by 2017) and severe traffic congestion necessitated the building of an urban rail system to provide additional public transportation capacity, relieve motor traffic, and provide infrastructure for additional development.

In May 2005, a AED 12.45 billion/US$3.4 billion design and build contract was awarded to the Dubai Rail Link (DURL) consortium made up of Japanese companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation and Turkish firm Yapı Merkezi,[13] and the Project Management ('The Engineer') and Construction Management services contract awarded to a French-American joint venture between Systra and Parsons Corporation. The first phase (worth AED 15.5 billion/US$4.2 billion) covers 35 kilometres (22 mi) of the proposed network, including the Red Line between Al Rashidiya and the Jebel Ali Free Zone[14] set for completion by September 2009[15] and the Green Line from Al Qusais 2 to Al Jaddaf 1. This was to be completed by June 2010.[16] A second phase contract was subsequently signed in July 2006 and includes extensions to the initial routes. The Red Line partially opened at 9 minutes and 9 seconds past 9 pm on 9 September 2009 (9/9/9 9:9:9), inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.[17]

Cost issues

The construction cost of the Dubai Metro project has shot up by about 80 per cent from the original AED 15.5 billion/US$4.2 billion to AED 28 billion/US$7.8 billion.[18] The authorities contradicted this, saying that the cost of the project did not overshoot. They attributed the increase in expenditure to the major changes in the scope and design of the project. The authorities also expect to generate AED 18 billion/US$4.9 billion in income over the next 10 years; but they speculate that the Metro would not be a profit-making enterprise, since the fares would be subsidised.

Delays

Dubai Metro Red Line Viaduct on 22 November 2007

Work officially commenced on the construction of the metro on 21 March 2006.[19] In February 2009, a top RTA Rail Agency official said the US$4.2 billion Dubai Metro project would be completed on schedule despite the global crisis.[20] However, only 10 out of 29 metro stations of the red line opened on 9 September 2009.[16]

Construction of the 18 stations on the red line and another 18 on the green line restarted on 7 February 2010, according to contractors, after a settlement was reached with a Japanese-led consortium over disputed payments of about US$2 billion-US$3 billion. Construction of all 29 metro stations on the Red Line was declared complete on 28 April 2010 by the acting chief of the RTA Rail Agency.

Seven more stations on the Dubai Metro Red Line opened on 30 April 2010. Ten new trains were pressed into service, giving a total of 22 trains in service when the stations opened. The seven stations are, Emirates Station, Airport Terminal 1 Station, Dubai Internet City (TECOM) Station, Al Karama Station, Emirates Towers Station, Marina Station and Ibn Battuta Station. In addition to this, a further three stations were opened on 15 May 2010; Al Quoz Station, GGICO Station and World Trade Center Station. Furthermore, Business Bay Station, First Gulf Bank (Burj Al Arab/Gold and Diamond Park) Station, Sharaf DG (Al Barsha) Station, Nakheel (Emirates Golf Club) Station and Jumeirah Lakes Towers Station were opened on 15 October 2010. After much delay, Jebel Ali Station, the terminus of the Red Line on the Abu Dhabi side was opened on 11 March 2011,[21] and Jebel Ali Industrial Station, renamed Danube Station, was opened on 12 December 2012.[22][23] The final two stations, Al Jadaf and Creek, on the Green Line were opened on 1 March 2014.[24]

Operation

A station on the Red Line

The Dubai Metro is operated by Serco under contract to the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority.[25]

Red Line trains run every 7 minutes off-peak, with a minimum headway of 3 min 45 sec provided during the peaks, with 44 trainsets in service. From 2010, when 51 trains were in service, the line had a peak-hour capacity of 11,675 passengers per hour in each direction. As of September 2014, the Red Line operates 60 trains (train registrations 5001-5045, 5065-5079) The theoretical maximum design capacity is 25,720 passengers per hour, which would require 106 trains.

The Green Line had an initial capacity of 6,395 passengers per hour per direction, with 19 trains (train registrations 5046-5064) in service as of September 2014. The design capacity of this route is put at 13,380 passengers per hour, with 60 trains in service.[26]

Ridership

Over 280,000 passengers used the Dubai Metro during the first week of its operation.[27]

Before launch, Dubai Municipality Public Transport Department expected the metro to provide transport for 12% of all trips in Dubai. After the first month of operation (on a limited network), the monthly total was 1,740,578 passengers, which equates to under 60,000 passengers/day.[28] After the opening of more stations in May 2010, ridership surged to 103,002 passengers/day and reached 130,000/day by the beginning of October 2010. When the Green Line opened on 9 September 2011, passengers on the Red Line was noted as 180,000/day. In 2013, passengers rose to 377,000/day, split 64% for the Red line and 36% for the Green Line.[29] During the first half of 2015, RTA announced that 88,252,034 passengers have used the metro.[30]

Statistics
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 H1
Lines 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
Kilometres 74.6
Trips (Red Line) 104,961 115,670
Trips (Green Line) 93,795 94,189
Trips (Total) 198,756 209,759
Passengers (Red Line) 6,892,544 38,887,718 60,024,794 71,914,000 88,886,539 104,000,000[1] 55,783,626[30]
Passengers (Green Line) 8,982,256 37,576,000 48,872,719 60,289,000[1] 32,468,408[30]
Passengers (Total) 6,892,544 38,887,718 69,007,050 109,490,000 137,759,258 164,307,000[1] 88,252,034[30]

One issue for the new system will be how to reliably and comfortably get riders to their final destination if it is not located at a metro station. The RTA has changed and added "feeder bus routes" which act as shuttle services to and from major locations in and around the station area. There are bus and taxi laybys constructed as well as drop off zones at each station for ease of passenger access.[31]

In addition 268 km of light rail lines are also planned, these will serve as feeders to the Dubai Metro. The Dubai Tram is one of the light rail plans.[31]

Lines

Map of Dubai Metro. Stations in black ■ are open, stations in white □ are not. Dashed lines are under construction, dotted lines were planned as of December 2011
Map of existing and proposed lines, as of January 2013

The first two lines of the Dubai Metro have 70 kilometres (43 mi) of lines, and 47 stations (including nine underground stations).[32]

The Roads and Transport Authority's masterplan includes 421 kilometres (262 mi) of metro lines up to 2030 to cater to the expected above 4.1 million population of the city. There are plans for 268 kilometres (167 mi) of light rail tracks to act as a feeder system for the Metro, although only the Al Sufouh Tramway is under construction as of January 2013. The fate of this entire network – which would reportedly be divided into Blue, Purple, Pink and Gold lines – is now dependent on an economic recovery and private investment.[33]


Expansion

Proposed

In 2011, the RTA stated that there are no "immediate plans" to build the Blue and Purple lines "in the next five or six years".[34]

In 2013, the RTA laid out a three phase plan to expand the existing lines and build new ones: extending the Green Line by 12 stations and 24 kilometres (15 mi) to Academic City by 2020; expanding the overall system by 58 stations and 91 kilometres (57 mi) by 2025 and completing expansion with a total of 69 stations and 221 km over and above the present 47 stations and 70 kilometres (43 mi) that are present as of January 2013.

In 2014, the RTA approved the recent proposal of extending the red line from Al Rashidiya station to Mirdif City Center which will increase 3.5 kilometer with the new station. However, there is also a proposal to extend it further to Al Warqa’a which is currently being studied.

On the green line, the RTA has finalized the extension plan of 20.6 kilometer from Al Jaddaf to Academic City. The extension will go through Festival City, Lagoons, Ras Al Khor Industrial Area, International City, Silicon Oasis and Dubai Academic City.[40]

Summary of complete and proposed lines

Line Terminals Original proposed
completion date		 Construction started Opened Length Stations Trip time [41] Average speed Cost [42] Cost/km US$
Red
Line		 Rashidiya -
UAE Exchange		 Sept 2009 August 2005 [43] 9 Sept 2009 (10 stations)
April 2010(+18 stations)
Sept 2013 (+1 station)		 52.1 km
(5 km underground)
 29
(all open)		 69 – 70 minutes 47 km/hr AED28.0b
US$7.6b [18]		 AED375.3m
US$102.2m
Green Line Etisalat -
Creek		 March 2010 [31] July 2006 [44] 9 Sep 2011 (18 stations)
March 1, 2014 (+2 stations) [45]		 22.5 km
(8 km underground)
 20
(all open)		 39 – 40 minutes 38 km/hr
Purple Line (proposed) Dubai International Airport -
Al Maktoum International Airport		 by 2012 [31] No immediate plans [34] Proposed 49 km [31] 8
(0 open) [31]		 unknown unknown US$2.73bn [34] 55.7m
Blue Line (proposed) Dubai International Airport -
Al Maktoum International Airport		 by 2013 [46] No immediate plans [34] Proposed 47 km [31] 18? unknown unknown unknown unknown

Stations

Dubai Metro Gold Section. The price of this section is twice that of the economy section.
Interior of a train

Dubai Metro is composed of at-grade (G) elevated Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 (T1, T2 and T3, respectively) underground stations (U) and underground transfer station types (UT). Type 1 is the regular at-grade concourse station, Type 2 is a regular elevated concourse station, and Type 3 is an elevated special track station with an extra track to hold a non operational train. Underground transfer stations will be accommodating both the Red and Green lines for easy transfers.

Besides these differences, there are five themes used in the interiors of the stations:[47]

  1. Heritage: Symbolizes the culture and history of the United Arab Emirates.
  2. Earth: Marks the start of the Dubai modern and urban drive, which resembles the force and durability of earth and soil.
  3. Air: Symbolizes the elation and joy that Dubai provides to residents and visitors.
  4. Fire: Symbolizes the energy, vigor and the strong will displayed by Dubai leaders.
  5. Water: Symbolizes the human values which Dubai seeks to ensure in its modern achievements.

The Earth stations have a tan-brown colour effects; water has blue-white colour effects; fire has orange-red colour effects; and the air has green colour effects.[48][49]

Officials are negotiating with international and local companies over naming rights for 23 stations on the two lines. This corporate branding is the first of its kind.[50]

Parking

The Dubai Metro has built three large multi-level car parking with an estimated capacity to accommodate more than 8,000 vehicles for the passengers where they can park their car and ride the metro.

Stations Line Spaces
Rashidiya Metro Station Red Line 2700 cars
Nakheel Harbour and Tower Metro Station Red Line 3000 cars
Etisalat Metro Station Green Line 2300 cars


The parking is free for the metro users.

Handicapped facilities

All metro stations have contrasting tactile guidance path to guide the visually impaired. There are also dedicated spaces for wheelchair users on all the trains.

Safety

Platform screen doors with corresponding flashing light signals are installed at every station for the safety of the passengers.

Telecommunication

Wi-Fi connectivity is proposed across all trains and stations which will be provided by du so passengers can use laptops, tablets as well as mobile to be connected with the internet. Mobile phone coverage is available across the entire network of the metro. Only some metro stations have Wi-Fi, but it's on a trial basis to see if the connection will be available everywhere.

Passengers also have emergency voice communication with train staff at the control room through a speaker system.

Tram Integration

On 11 November 2014 onward, The Dubai Tram integrated with Dubai Metro - Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lake Towers station. Footbridges are connected and provide a direct link between the two adjacent Tram and Metro stations for a smooth and seamless interchange for passengers between the two systems.

Travelling

The Dubai Transport is divided into 4 tiers (5 zones). As of 2013 the cheapest ticket (not preloaded, and not in the "gold" class) with distance not more than 3 km cost 1.80 AED (about $0.54) - equivalent of Tier 0, and most costly single trip (Tier 3, exceed 2 zones, and paper not preloaded ticket also) 5.80 AED (about $1.77) and was not increased from opening. Dubai Metro fares are among the cheapest metro fares in the world. Tier 1 is one zone trip, where the travel exceeds 3 km, Tier 2 is neighboring 2 zones travel. Also (excluding Gold class) using cards there is "no more paying" - a free rest of day travel if cost exceeds 14 AED (about $3.81).[51][52]

Ticketing

The Dubai Metro has a fixed fare based on 3 tiers. The tiers are

Tiers Number of Zones
Tier 1 Within 1 zone or less than 3 zones, crossing 2 zones
Tier 2 Starts in 1 zone and ends in neighboring zone
Tier 3 Crosses 3 or more zones

The Nol Card are used by the passengers to check-in and check-out at the gates in their destination station. The fare will be automatically deducted based on the number of zones traveled. Passengers will be allowed to check-in when their card has more than minimum credit required.

Children below the age of 5 years or less than 90 cm and people with disabilities (personalized Nol Card required) will be eligible to travel the metro for free.

There is also a Nol Card available for students & seniors, and they can get a student & senior citizens' discount.

Trains

Train 5001, the first train delivered to Dubai on the Red Line
A train on trial in February 2009

Japanese manufacturer Kinki Sharyo built a total of 79 five-car trains (60 on Red Line, 19 on Green Line).[53] They are designed to carry 643 seated and standing passengers, and unusually for a mass transit system, the trains have three classes of accommodation: Gold Class (first class), Women and Children class (extra large during peak hours), and regular Silver Class (economy).[54] The first train (5001) was delivered to Dubai in March 2008.[53] The metro has driverless operation and uses third rail current collection. Trained wardens accompany passengers to help with emergencies.[55]

Signalling

To permit fully automated operation, Thales Rail Signalling Solutions is supplying its SelTrac IS communications-based train control and NetTrac central control technology. This is configured for a minimum headway of 90 sec. Maximum speed of the trains will be 90 km/h, giving a round-trip time of 2 h 23 min for the Red Line and 1 h 23 min for the Green Line.

Incidents and accidents

Dubai Metro Museum

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, gave his directions to transform Dubai Metro stations into art museums under the supervision of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, The project was announced early April 2014 and aims at displaying contemporary and modern art.[63]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Revealed: How many passengers used Dubai Metro in 2014".
  2. ↑ "Specifications: Dubai Metro – Most Advanced Urban Rail Systems". Railway-Technology.com.
  3. ↑ Roads & Transport Authority, UAE
  4. ↑ "Dubai Metro Opens On Time But Over Budget". Sky News. 2009-09-09.
  5. ↑ "Dubai metro unlikely to speed business growth". Ameinfo. 2009-09-08.
  6. ↑ "Will metro change Dubai car culture?". BBC News. 2009-09-11.
  7. ↑ TheNational.ae
  8. ↑ "Home".
  9. ↑ "Designers transfer Hong Kong know-how to Dubai's new metro". scmp.com.
  10. ↑ "Al Ghurair :: Metro Milestones".
  11. ↑ "Dubai Metro’s Red Line to get seven new stations for Expo 2020 | The National". Retrieved 2015-04-12.
  12. ↑ "Dubai in Guinness for longest driverless metro - Khaleej Times".
  13. ↑ Dubai metro contract awarded, Railway Gazette International 2005-07-01, retrieved 2008-03-15
  14. ↑ "Jebel Ali Free Zone". Business-Dubai.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Dubai RTA – Red Line Project as on 2007-09-09
  16. 1 2 "Ten key Dubai Metro stations set for launch". Gulf News. 2009-08-30.
  17. ↑ "UAE Vice President launches Dubai Metro". Gulf News. 2009-09-09.
  18. 1 2 "Changes to Metro put cost up by Dh12bn". The National. 2009-08-31.
  19. ↑ Work begins on Dubai Metro project, Khaleej Times 2006-03-22, retrieved 2006-03-22.
  20. ↑ "Dubai Metro on track despite global crisis". Arabian Business. 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  21. ↑ Staff Report. "RTA sets date for Jebel Ali Metro Station opening".
  22. ↑ gulfnews : Five new stations open on Red Line of Dubai Metro
  23. ↑ Shabandari, Muaz (12 December 2012). "Danube metro station unveiled". Khaleej Times.
  24. ↑ "Dubai Metro fully functional; Al Jadaf, Creek stations open to public". Khaleej Times. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  25. ↑ Serco preferred bidder for Dubai metro operations contract, Railway Gazette International 2007-07-01, retrieved 2008-03-15
  26. ↑ Ellis, Dominic (2008-03-27). "Driverless trains to support a prosperous future". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2008-12-28.
  27. ↑ "World's Longest Automated Unmanned Metro Opens in Dubai". Pravda.ru. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  28. ↑ "Dubai Metro lifts 1.7m passengers in first month". Arabian Business.
  29. ↑ RTA Annual Statistical Report 2013
  30. 1 2 3 4 Wam. "88m use Dubai Metro, 2m use Tram in H1 2015 - Khaleej Times".
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Blue and Purple Lines unlikely in next five years". Railway-Technology.com. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  32. ↑ "Shaikh Mohammad tours the Dubai Metro project". Gulf News. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  33. ↑ "Dubai Metro on expansion track". Khaleej Times. 17 January 2013.
  34. 1 2 3 4 "Blue and Purple Lines unlikely in next five years". Arabian Supply Chain. 2011-09-11.
  35. 1 2 "Dubai Metro". Dubai Online.
  36. 1 2 Railway Gazette, 30 September 2014. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/dubai-metro-expansion-plans.html
  37. ↑ Khaleej Times (http://khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/transport/2013/January/transport_January19.xml&section=transport)
  38. ↑ "Dubai Metro Green Line set to start mid-2010". Arabian Business.
  39. ↑ Business24-7.ae
  40. ↑
  41. ↑ Train Times and Landmark Flyer, RTA UAE
  42. ↑ Based on exchange rate US$1 = AED3.672
  43. ↑ "Home".
  44. ↑ Emirati Law
  45. ↑ "Dubai Metro makes a mark". Gulf News. 2011-09-10.
  46. ↑ "Plans for Dubai's third metro track finalised". Gulf News. 2006-05-24.
  47. ↑ "Dubai metro themes". Gulf News. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  48. ↑ Dubai Rapid Link Consortium – Approved Red Line Project Model dtd. 5 Nov. 2006
  49. ↑ Dubai Rapid Link Consortium – Approved Green Line Project Model dtd. 19 Nov. 2006
  50. ↑ "Is Advertising the New Indicator for Emerging Markets?". Contrarian Profits. 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  51. ↑ "Roads & Transport Authority - Media Corner".
  52. ↑ Gregor McClenaghan. "Metro fares 'among world's cheapest'".
  53. 1 2 First Dubai metro train arrives, Railway Gazette International 2008-03-14, retrieved 2008-03-15.
  54. ↑ "At a glance:Dubai Metro". Gulf News. 2007-03-19. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  55. ↑ Trained wardens will help people on Dubai Metro, Khaleej Times 2007-04-16
  56. ↑ Gulfnews.com
  57. ↑ Fire breaks out on Metro track
  58. ↑ Staff. "Technical snag forces Dubai Metro to go slow". Emirates 24-7.
  59. ↑ "Man killed on Dubai Metro in apparent suicide, say police". The National. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  60. ↑
  61. ↑ Staff Report. "Dubai Metro’s Red Line 'back to normal' after glitch - Khaleej Times".
  62. ↑ Reporter, Cleofe Maceda, Senior Web (2016-04-03). "Passengers stranded at Dubai Metro station". GulfNews. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  63. ↑ "Dubai Metro stations to be art museums". Retrieved 2015-06-15.

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