By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: Metro users in Dubai faced delays on Thursday morning after the service was suspended for more than 40 minutes, Gulf News has learnt.
Hundreds of commuters were stranded when the train operation was suspended, reportedly due to technical hitches.
The RTA media relations office did not respond to queries despite repeated requests.
Meanwhile, passengers complained they were stuck in trains and at stations for more than 40 minutes at around 10am when the trains stopped moving.
“We were not told what had happened as the train stopped on Shaikh Zayed Road between Al Jafiliya and Financial Centre stations,” said Mujtaba Shah, a regular commuter. “Suspension of train operations for shorter periods of time has been a regular feature for some time,” said another regular commuter.
“We faced delays around 6pm on Monday and again trains stopped running on Wednesday,” he said.
“We don’t mind a little bit of delay as it is quite common everywhere, but delays lead to crowding at stations and it becomes very difficult to embark or disembark the trains,” said Sarah P., a Filipina.
She said the authorities should ensure punctuality, especially during peak hours to attract more riders.
Meanwhile, an RTA official said that the opening of seven more stations on the Red Line had been delayed for five days.
“The stations will now open on April 30 instead of April 25 as announced earlier,” he added. This will bring the total number of operating stations to 18 out of the 29 on the Red Line.
