The official operation of the Dubai Tram, which stretches in the first stage 10.6 km and spans 11 stations dotting densely populated and activity areas, will open this evening, ahead of the launch to the general public tomorrow.

The official operation of the Dubai Tram, which stretches in the first stage 10.6 km and spans 11 stations dotting densely populated and activity areas, will open this evening (November 11), ahead of the launch to the general public tomorrow.

The initial and second phases of the Dubai Tram extend 14.6 km along Safouh Street and the initial stage stretches 10.6 km starting from the Marina up to the Tram Depot nearby the Dubai Police Academy.

The entire tram network spans 17 stations and the initial stage covers the construction of 11 stations (JBR 1, JBR 2, JLT, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Marina, Marina Towers, Mina Siyahi, Dubai Media City, the Palm Jumeirah, Knowledge Village, and Safouh).

Stations have been located to serve densely populated and activity areas along the tramway. The tram fleet comprises 11 trams under the initial stage, and 14 trams will be added in the second stage to bring the total to 25 trams. The tram is expected to serve about 27,000 riders at the start of operations in 2014 and the ridership is anticipated to hit about 66,000 riders by 2020.

Each tram measures 44 meters in length and has a capacity to accommodate 405 riders. The tram consists of seven carriages including gold, silver cabins in addition to a cabin dedicated to ladies and children. The Dubai Tram features high-class and deluxe internal finishing works of carriages and stations.

The tram is fitted with edge cutting technologies in displaying information and entertainment materials. Passengers’ platform at stations extends 45 meters and is fitted with screen doors extending along the platform, automated doors, fare collection machines and facilities customized for the use of special needs.

The tramway runs principally at the grade besides Safouh Street, and rises in viaducts at certain locations at the Dubai Marina for considerations relating to the urban environment of the area. The tram links with the Dubai Metro at two stations: Damac Properties and JLT.

The Tramway also intersects with the monorail of the Palm Jumeirah at the Palm Jumeirah on Safouh Street to ease the movement and transfer of riders between the communities served by both projects.

Dubai Tram, which will be available for passengers from Wednesday, will run from 6:30 pm until 1:30 am of the following day (Thursday), while on Fridays it runs from 09:00 am in until 1:30 am of the following day, with headway of 10 minutes during peak hours, and 12 minutes off-peak.

The Dubai Tram has passed the technical test run conducted in the first half of 2013 at the manufacturer's plant in France, and was completed in Dubai in January this year on the tram track and continued till the official operation.

The test run included electric propulsion system of the tram coaches, braking system, sudden stoppage in cases of emergency, ground power feed of the tram track, ground-based electric supply system extending along the track, and with tram doors operation.

The technical inspection also ensured the tram’s readiness and performance to operate optimally during all circumstances, as the test run also covered the air-conditioning system, power supply systems and braking system, coupling in addition to the power cut test, rails monitoring and control system, as well as the train operational tests during normal and emergency situations.

Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said:  “The Dubai Tram is considered the first is considered the first tram outside Europe powered by ground electric cables extending throughout the tramway, thus obviating the need for centenary cables. It is also the first tram in the world that uses the technology of platform screen doors the mechanism of which is synchronized with the opening and closing of the tram doors.”

“It is also the first tram in the world that uses automatic protection technology in order to ensure higher levels of comfort, security and safety to riders, the first tram in the world that has air-conditioned passenger stations, and the first tram that has Gold Class, Ladies & Children and Silver Class cabins.

“The Dubai Tram boasts of high-class and deluxe internal finishing works of carriages and stations. The tram is fitted with edge cutting technologies in displaying information and entertainment materials. Some stations of the tram have air-conditioned bridges fitted with escalators and lifts and the project caters to the needs of various community segments, especially the disabled and the elderly,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service