By Bindu Rai www.emirates247.com
The Dh10.6 billion ‘Route 2020’ project of extending the Red Line of Dubai Metro has been awarded to the Expolink Consortium, with the new extension ready for launch by May 20, 2020.
The consortium that was picked by the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai comprises France’s Alstom, Spanish firm Acciona and Gulermack of Turkey, which presented the winning bid.
According to the contract, Alstom would supply 50 trains: 15 serving the Expo, 35 for upgrading the level of service on Dubai Metro.
The 15km-long extension work will commence in the fourth quarter of 2016, with Mattar Al Tayer, the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA confirming the trial runs would commence by Q4 2019.
Speaking to the media, Al Tayer said: “Construction works on the project would start in the final quarter of this year and the trial run is expected to start in the last quarter of 2019.”
Al Tayer continued: “The official operation of the service is set to start in the second half of 2020, namely on May 5, five months ahead of the opening of Expo 2020.” More info
