The Dubai Metro turned eight on Saturday. From the launch of the service on September 9, 2009, till August 31, 2017, the mass transit lifeline of the city has ferried 1.028 billion riders
dubai — A staggering 1.028 billion riders have been served by the Dubai Metro since it first hit the tracks on September 9, 2009 — a huge milestone to mark the eight year of the world’s longest driverless metro line (Red Line) on Saturday.
According to Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), 689million riders have been lifted by the Red Line and 339million riders were served by the Green Line till the end of August 2017.
This means, on the average, around 342,500 rides are registered daily in both the Red Line (which opened on September 9, 2009) and the Green Line (inaugurated on September 9, 2011).
The RTA noted that Dubai Metro has seen a sustained growth in ridership over the years. The Red Line metro riders soared by 54 per cent from 38.89million in 2010 to 60million riders in 2011. The number shot up to 104million riders in 2014, and grew further to 121million riders in 2016.
Last year, Union Station accounted for the largest number of Red Line users recording 47.8million riders, followed by Deira City Centre Station at 46.878million and Burjuman Station, 46.749million.
Green Line has served about 339million riders. The number picked up from 37.576million riders in 2012 to 48.872million riders in 2013, recording a 30 per cent growth rate. It continued the upward trend to reach 65.94million riders in 2015 and further grew to 69.708million riders last year.
Al Fahidi Station is the busiest Green Line station with 37.93million riders, followed by Baniyas Station (33.55million), Al Ghubaiba Station (26million) and Oud Metha Station (24million).
“The positive indicators of the growing number of metro riders underscores the strategic dimension of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the solid conviction of His Highness in the vital role of the metro system in addressing the needs of urbanisation growth seen by Dubai,” said Mattar Al Tayer, RTA director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors.
“Sheikh Mohammed has envisioned the metro as the backbone of a transport system that links vital parts of Dubai and provides safe and smooth transport of people,” he added.
Unique features
Al Tayer praised the operational efficiency and high security and safety levels of Dubai Metro. He also noted that the Dubai Metro, which extends 75kilometres, “has an array of features that give it a unique standing worldwide. It is the longest driverless metro line across the world. Its Union Station is considered the
Growing number of metro riders underscores Sheikh Mohammed’s solid conviction in the vital role of the metro system in addressing the needs of urbanisation growth seen by Dubai.” world’s biggest underground metro station spanning an area of 25,000 square metres. Burjuman Station is widely known as one of the gorgeous metro stations in the world.”
Al Tayer added: “The RTA is moving ahead with its ambitious plan to revamp mass transit systems and raise the share of public transport in the people’s mobility to as much as 30 per cent by 2030.”
Construction of the Red Line Metro expansion or Route 2020 is right on track. The trial run is expected to start in the last quarter of 2019 and the official operation is set for May 20, 2020, five months ahead of the scheduled opening of Expo 2020.
The capacity of Route 2020 is estimated at 46,000 riders per hour in both directions and estimated transit time from Dubai Marina Station to Expo Station is expected to be 16 minutes only.
angel@khaleejtimes.com