By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: Tests have been conducted and staff deployed at the five new Metro stations set to open in mid-October, a senior Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) official said.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA said: “Five more stations are ready to receive passengers by middle of October.”
Al Tayer added that the RTA, through the Dubai Metro’s operating company Serco, has completed all tests, including the communication and auto-operation systems, power supply, air conditioning, on-board electronic systems, and the signalling system.
He said the RTA had also finished training staff and customer service employees deployed at the new stations. The staff members have taken up their duties after finishing intensive training courses, Al Tayer said.
Increased frequency
With the opening of the new stations, some 22 trains will now be deployed during peak time and 16 trains will operate during off-peak times.
The service frequency will be six minutes during peak time and eight minutes during off-peak time.
Around 28 feeder buses will be deployed to link the new stations with the surrounding areas. The bus frequency is expected to range between 13 minutes and 20 minutes.
Commenting on how each station’s location was chosen, Al Tayer said: “Stations have been selected based on the extent of population density in the locality served by each station, availability of commercial activities in the area, availability of government activities in the vicinity of each station, and the projected number of passengers at each station.”
Nakheel station is expected to be busy with commuters considering its proximity to the American University in Dubai, and the mega residential projects in the vicinity of the station.”
Stations not expected to be opened in the near future due to the lack of development around them include Energy, Jebel Ali Industrial and Jebel Ali.
Earlier, RTA said it would release daily and monthly travel passes in December .
It said the daily pass will cost Dh14 for unlimited trips on the Metro and public buses all over the city. Monthly passes will range from Dh100 to Dh270. A monthly pass for students will cost Dh170 for unlimited trips while a monthly pass for senior citizens (age 60 and above) will cost Dh200.
“The Metro carried some 30 million passengers during the first year of its operation with the daily average ridership increasing to 130,000 passengers. The daily number of passengers is expected to rise to 150,000 with the opening of the new five stations,” Al Tayer said.
Fast facts: Greater connectivity
–Â Five Metro stations to open in the middle of October are The Business Bay, First Gulf Bank, Sharaf DG, Nakheel and Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
– 22 trains to be deployed during peak time, 16 trains off-peak time.
–Â Service frequency: Six minutes in peak time, eight minutes off-peak time.
– 28 feeder buses to link the new stations with the neighbourhood.
