Tag: abu dhabi metro

The architect of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE completes six successful years as the Ruler of Dubai on January 4, 2012. Sheikh Mohammed’s vision has transformed Dubai into an enviable city, which nations around the world compete to replicate.

Abu Dhabi will soon be connected to the other emirates of the UAE and to the wider region by a broad-gauge rail network that will streamline logistics, boost exports and increase industrial development, Global Arab Network reports according to OBG.

The massive project includes plans for a high-speed long distance rail link, driverless four-line Metro service for Doha and freight lines. The plans also include the West Bay People Mover, and overground rail system designed to distribute passengers around Doha’s tower district. The initial push will be to develop the Doha Metro Red Line that runs between Messaieed in the south with Al Khor in the North.

If the Railway Board gives clearance, Metro Railway will be the first underground network in the country to introduce screen doors. Several metro networks across the world have screen doors. In Asia, metro networks in Japan, South Korea, China, Dubai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have screen doors.

The metro rail system will run approximately 131km, and will be supported by tram and bus feeder services. Besides serving the projected increase in population of the city and relieving congestion, the metro will connect the mainland with communities such as Saadiyat, Yas Islands and Al Raha Beach.

Etihad Rail has launched three major tenders for prequalification for the second stage of its nationwide rail project. The master planner behind the UAE’s first rail system has lined up a major design and build infrastructure package for interested parties along with a mechanical tender for the trains systems and a supply tender for switches and crossing.

Potential private sector operators will need to proceed with diligence to ensure that by taking part in Dubai’s public transport system they can reap the dividends, so will likely look carefully at what routes the RTA may bring to the table.

The Middle Eastern division of Atkins, the UK engineering and design company working on the Dubai Metro and the Etihad Rail line, pointed to "a slowdown in the release of projects" in Abu Dhabi when it reported yesterday a 3.7 per cent drop in profit for the first half of its fiscal year.

There was a time not so long ago when the Metro was seen as an exercise in mild futility. The general if uninformed public consensus was that Dubai was a car-centric town and that no executive would deign to take a train to work and that these blue streaks would go empty.

The day is set to highlight the use of public transport, reduce road congestion and protect the environment by reducing carbon emission from vehicle exhausts. About 50 lucky commuters will also receive a top up of Dh100 of credit on their Nol cards on the day.