Dubai’s Al Sufouh Tram Project Gearing Up For Nov 2014 Start

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has submitted a motion for the upcoming Al Sufouh tram system to the legal department of the Dubai government, a senior official has said.

Mattar Al Tayer, RTA chairman and executive director said that the body aims to sign MoUs with entities concerned with the tram operation during the next few months.

“The manufacturer of trams has started the trial run of the tram operation in a 700 meter-long test track at the facilities of Alstom company in France,” official news agency WAM quoted him as saying.

“The first tram is set to arrive Dubai next December, and the RTA will launch the experimental tests on the tram track in Dubai in January 2014. These tests will continue till the cut-off date for the start of the tram service in November 2014,” he added.

The initial stage of the project spans 10.6 km and will include the movement of 11 trams, with 11 stations in operation. Each tram will comprise of seven cabins – one gold, two for ladies and children, and four silver class ones, and each tram will shuttle at a headway of six minutes.

The stations, measuring 44 meters each, will be fitted with platform screen doors separating the tram carriages from the passengers terminal, stated Al Tayer.

All the stations will have central air-conditioning systems, automated fare collection machines, and surveillance systems.

The RTA is also setting up a fence for pedestrians throughout the tramway to avoid accidents, and signalised crossings will be provided near all the tram stations.

Six footbridges will be provided, including four new bridges to be constructed at certain stations as per the approved plans and specifications, added Al Tayer.

Elevated pavements have also been designed to fend off vehicles crossing into the tramway, and protective rail will be set up around all the stations.

The RTA, along with the Dubai police, also plans to launch a joint awareness campaign before the trial operations begin to introduce the tram to the public and manage traffic at the intersection points.