The train engines to be used in the $3.89 billion Dubai Light Rail Project will soon be selected, the promoters of the project said.
The enterprise, which is meant to connect various parts of Dubai, is in the tendering stage. Once in full operation, the Dubai metro system is expected to carry about 1.2 million passengers on average a day, and 355 million passengers a year.
"The Dubai Light Rail Project is currently in the tendering stage," said Qasim Sultan, director-general of the municipality.
"The estimated cost of the project is Dh14.3 billion ($3.89 billion). However, the actual cost of the project will only be known after the tenders have been announced, and that should be fairly soon," Sultan said.
He said the main contractor for the project is in the process of being finalised. "Though the project is extremely sophisticated and requires an extremely high level of expertise even on the international scale, Dubai Municipality's current schedule of the project envisages that site preparation and ground work could start in another six-months' time. This, of course, will ultimately be decided by the qualification of the main contractor."
Apart from the appraisal process for the tender, he said, the Supreme Committee in charge of the project is busy evaluating various related sub-projects, such as the sourcing of the rail engines and passenger cars.
"The Dubai Light Rail Project was born out of the visionary directives of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, who foresaw the need to put in place modern and up-to-date intelligent transportation systems to cater to the rapidly burgeoning city of Dubai, which expects 15 million visitors by 2010," Sultan said.
The Dubai Light Rail Network will consist of two lines. The Red Line will initially run from close to Al Gurair Centre to the American University of Dubai through BurJuman and Shaikh Zayed Road, and will then be extended to Jebel Ali Port in the south and the intersection of Al Nahda and Damascus roads through Al Qiyadah intersection in the north.
The Green Line will run from close to Dubai Municipality to Rashidiya bus station through Deira City Centre and the Airport Terminals 1 and 3, and will be extended to serve the Deira and Bur Dubai central areas and souqs up to BurJuman and Wafi shopping centres. A possible extension of the Green Line from Wafi to the Dubai Festival City is under study.
Driverless trains offer safe mass transport
Each train will be approximately 75 metres long, consisting of five cars, with several double doors allowing for fast entry and exit of passengers at stations.
The trains will be driverless, fully automated, offering an extremely safe and reliable service.
The frequency could be as often as one every 90 seconds, with extensive windows for riders to see the city.
Gulf News
