Dubai Metro
Encyclopedia : D : DU : DUB : Dubai Metro
The Dubai Metro will be a driverless, fully automated metro network under construction in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai. The network will have two third rail collection system powered lines that will both run underground in the city center and on elevated viaducts elsewhere on double tracks. The first phase of the network is being built by Dubai Rapid Link (DURL), a Japanese led consortium headed by Mitsubishi while the driverless system will be designed and implemented by [Alcatel Canada Transport Automation Solutions]. The Dubai Metro will be operated by the Dubai Municipality Public Transport Department. The Dubai Metro system will be the longest fully automated rail system in the world. Completion of the first section of the system is projected for 2009.
Construction
Work has officially commenced on the construction of the rail. Plans for the Dubai Metro began under the directive of Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who expected Dubai's other projects to attract 15 million visitors by 2010. This combined with Dubai's 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 capacity to public transportation, relieve motor traffic, and provide infrastructure for additional development.The Preliminary Engineering Study for the project was completed in 2004 by Systra. In May 2005 DURL was awarded both the construction and maintenance contracts over bids by different consortia led by France's Alstom, Germany's Siemens, and Canada's Bombardier.
The first phase (worth AED 15.5 billion\ US$4.2 billion) covering 35-kilometers of the proposed network, including the Red Line between Salahuddin Road and the American University in Dubai and the Green Line from the Dubai International Airport to Rashidiya Bus Station, is to be completed by May 2009. Extensions to both routes are included in the second phase, which is now expected to be functional by 2010.
Dubai Municipality Public Transport Department projects to carry 1.2 million passengers on an average day, 27,000 passengers per hour for each line, and 355 million passengers per year once both lines are fully operational. Bus routes and stops will be organised around the backbone provided by the rail system.
When completed, Dubai Metro will have a total of 70 kilometres (43.5 miles) of lines, and 42 stations (including 9 underground stations). It is estimated that it will comprise of 12 % of the total trips in Dubai. Each station will have its own car park, taxi stand and bus stop.
Dubai Metro network
There are two lines which use 99 five-car trains each 75-meters long with seat for 400 passengers:
- Red Line: 50-kilometer (31-mile) line with 35 stations from Jebel Ali Port, the American University in Dubai, through the city center, and to the Airport Free Zone.
- Green Line: 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) line with 22 stations from Festival City, through the city center, Dubai International Airport Terminals 1 and 3, and to Rashidiya.
- Blue Line: 47-kilometer line along Emirates Road, exact route currently unknown. [link]
List of stations
- The Red Line
- * Jebel Ali Port Station
- * Stations 2 - 5
- * American University in Dubai
- * Internet City Station
- * Stations 8 and 9
- * Souk al Nakheel Station
- * Stations 11 - 17
- * Burj Dubai Station
- * Financial City Station
- * Emirates Towers Station
- * Trade Center Station
- * Stations 22 - 24
- * Burjuman Station
- * Station 26
- * al-Ittihad Square Station
- * Salahuddin Station
- * Stations 29 - 34
- * Airport Free Zone Station
- The Green Line
- * Festival City Station
- * Stations 2 and 3
- * Health Care City Station
- * Stations 5 - 7
- * Burjuman Station
- * Stations 9 - 13
- * al-Ittihad Square Station
- * Stations 15 - 16
- * Dubai International Airport Terminal 1 Station
- * Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 Station
- * Station 21
- * Rashidiya Station
References
- ["Work begins on Dubai Metro project"], Khaleej Times, March 22, 2006, retrieved March 22, 2006.
External links
- [Dubai Metro Homepage]
- [Information on Dubai Metro from UrbanRail]
- [Information on Dubai Metro from Railway-Technology]
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