‘Crowd and queue management systems to ensure safety of crowds’
Expected waiting time outside stations ranges from 5 to more than 60 minutes
Raimund Hanauer, director of Transport Planning at Qatar Rail, said given that safety is always a priority for the company, special operational plans have been developed for each of the network’s 37 metro stations, as well as the seven tram stations that are currently operational, with the aim of managing as many customers as possible during the World Cup.
He added: “We expect the arrival of unprecedented numbers of passengers, and even though our entire fleet is operational, there will be times when demand will exceed our capacity and our only option is to organise and manage crowds outside the stations. To this end, crowd and queue management systems have been put in place, which customers must follow when entering stations to ensure the safety of everyone and to avoid congestion inside stations and trains.”
He said: “These queues will be supervised by our welltrained and qualified staff, and will also be organised and monitored through the control room in order to reduce waiting times as much as possible, especially since the expected waiting period will range from five minutes to an hour or more, depending on the service time. During offpeak times, we are expecting waiting times to be very short and customers may not have to wait at all, but during peak hours in the afternoon when the majority of passengers are trying to reach downtown or in the late evening when most people are going back home, waiting times will be longer.”
Hanauer advised fans wishing to travel during peak times to leave extra time when planning their journey in advance, in order to reach their destination on time, while going early to the stadium to enjoy the vibes, rather than being late for the match.