First of 50 new Dubai Metro trains coming soon
Improved design will increase passenger intake by 8%, to 696 riders per train
The first of 50 new trains for the Dubai Metro will arrive in November, with the last one being delivered in October 2019, a top official announced yesterday.
Fifteen of the trains will be deployed to serve Expo 2020 and 35 will enhance the metro service. Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) made the announcement after attending a technical test run of the first train, at the manufacturer Alstom’s factory in Poland. ■
Al Tayer described the test run as a milestone in the construction of Route 2020 Project, which involves the extension of the Dubai Metro Red Line 15km from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station, to the site of Expo 2020.
Improvements to the metro carriages’ interior design include dedicating the last carriage for women and children and leaving part of the first carriage for the Gold Class. Other carriages will be Silver Class. Seats will be transversal in the Gold Class, and longitudinal in the Silver Class as well as women and children’s carriage.
The improved design will increase the passenger intake by eight per cent to 696 riders per train.
Additions include revamping the designs without affecting the design identity of handles, lighting, and the locations of digital signage. They also include an illuminated dynamic map of the metro route and stations, using a power-saving lighting system, and modifying the design of the luggage compartment to make it usable by standing commuters. The carriages are also customised for use by people of determination.