Dubai tramway delayed to 2014 on downturn - RTA

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Dubai’s tramway system completion has been delayed by two years to 2014 due to the recession, an official at the emirate’s Roads & Transport Authority said on Tuesday.

“Because of the recession we had to re-plan our projects again,” Abdul Redha Abu Al-Hassan, director rail planning & development said at a conference in Abu Dhabi.

The Phase 1 of the project was initially expected to be completed in April 2011. Phase 1 will link Al Sufouh area with Dubai Marina area by replacing the existing bridge with a new one.

Related: Five more Dubai metro stations to open in Oct - paper

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Overall, the RTA plans to develop a $1.1bn tram system that will be 14.5 km long. The tramway will be executed in two phases.

According to an RTA statement last year, the tram network includes 19 passenger stations, nine of which are covered under Phase I and spread across activity and population density areas along the tram route. Each train measures 44 meters in length and has a loading capacity of about 300 passengers.

The fleet will consist of eight trams in Phase I and 17 more will be added in Phase II such that there will be a fleet of 25 trains in place capable of commuting about 5000 passengers per hour per direction, the RTA had said.

READERS' COMMENTS

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@Oli69
Posted by JK, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 29 September 2010 at 14:40 UAE time

@Oli69 Didn't you say the same about metro few years back? I personally know few well paid execs using metro to travel to work from Marina/JBR/JLT not just labourers. And if labourers use them as well, I think it is good as they are just humans like us. If you ain't going to use it, that's fine. But please stop cursing at infrastructure developments in our country. The world is going though some rough financial times and am sure especially where you come from as well, but when the time is right, it will all happen and it will help a lot of us although maybe not you, but it might be you as well. Please be polite. We appreciate your help in our country though.

Tram delay
Posted by mansoor, Dubai on Wednesday 29 September 2010 at 13:57 UAE time

I remember construction started during 2009, they should have not ripped of such a beautiful area, now un-constructed tram line and detour's at marina are here to stay.... wont dust and weather destroy all the current progress

useless
Posted by Oli69, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 29 September 2010 at 11:26 UAE time

What is the point with this tramway anyway??! Who is going to use it?? The residents in dubai marina will probably never use a tramway, let's be realistic! For laborers and service staff they're better off adding a bus lane and increasing the number of buses. Now everybody will have to suffer disruption until 2014. Good job RTA, as usual you never get it right...

Marina Tram
Posted by Chris J, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 29 September 2010 at 11:25 UAE time

We accept that there are issues in Dubai in funding the tram. This has been evident in the lack of work for more than one year. Surely a small budget can be found to return the trees and plants and review the traffic barrier arrangements which impede traffic flows until the RTA has the capacity to restart these important works. Residents of the Marina pay a beautification levy in their charges and those on the major roads should again have safety and beauty available.

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