Dubai Tram Launches Trial Operations

Trial operations of the Dubai Tram began on August 11, as the project prepares to officially begin operations in two months, on November 11, 2014, official news agency WAM reported.

The event in Al Sufouh area was attended by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who toured the tram depot, which consists of 11 eco-friendly buildings housing 25 trams trains, a maintenance and cleaning centre, and the operation control centre.

The Dubai Tramway is being built in two phases. The initial phase of the project consists of a 10.6 km-long track starting from the Dubai Marina and stretching up to the tram depot near Dubai Police Academy. It will include 17 passenger stations and a fleet of 11 trams.

In Phase II, 14 trams will be added to make a total of 25 operating trams, with the route extending to a total length of 14.6 kilometres.

Each tram has seven coaches, including a gold suite and one cabin dedicated to women and children, with the 44-metre carriage designed to accommodate up to 405 passengers. The trams will operate 20 hours a day, from 5.00am to 1.00am.

The Dubai Tram will connect residential, commercial and tourism projects such as Dubai Marina, Media City, Internet City, Knowledge Village and several luxury hotels. The tramline will also be aligned with the Dubai Metro and the Palm Jumeirah Monorail.

It is expected to transport about 27,000 passengers per day at the start of operations in 2014, with the numbers anticipated to increase to 66,000 per day by 2020.

It will be operated by Serco, the same company that manages the Dubai Metro.

Dubai Tram is the first tramway project outside Europe to be powered by a ground-based electric supply system along the track and also the world’s first to use platform screen doors in passenger stations.

Following a tour of the facilities, Sheikh Mohammed expressed his “admiration of the project” and said it will be a new addition to the landmarks and tourist attractions of Dubai and UAE, reported WAM.