Dubai Tram has transported 20,879,564 riders since its launch on November 11, 2014 up to the end of September 2018, said a top official of Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA).

The Tram route extends 10.6 kilometres connecting 11 stations, namely JBR 1, JBR 2, JLT, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Marina, Marina Towers, Mina Siyahi, Dubai Media City, Palm Jumeirah, Knowledge Village and Al Sufouh. It contributed in reducing the carbon footprint by 81 per cent.

 "The Dubai Tram has revolutionised Dubai's public transport system offering a new safe and convenient mass transport means covering most visitors and tourist’s attractions areas," said Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency. "The Tram has significantly contributed to integrating other mass transit modes and reducing traffic congestion especially in vital areas, thus enhanced tourism and entertainment in Dubai.”

“The Tram is linked to Dubai Metro at two stations on Sheikh Zayed Road: DAMAC Properties and Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Such a link enhances the integration of the two sophisticated modes enabling the movement of 10,715,568 riders between these two modes from November 2014 to September 2018. About 232,323 riders were lifted between the Tram and public buses during the same period. This integration between the Tram & the Metro on the one hand, and the Tram & public buses on the other has boosted the ridership of mass transit users in Dubai city,” continued Younes.

“To ensure the smooth mobility of riders, RTA has linked some of the Tram stations with four air-conditioned footbridges built to serve users as well as people on both sides of the road. Two footbridges were built on Al Sufouh Street, in addition to two other bridges linking with TECOM and Dubai Marina Mall to ensure safe pedestrian crossing," added Younes.

 The pedestrian bridges are fully air-conditioned and equipped with elevators. They boast of a design harmonious with the architecture of the Tram and stations. They offer users a high level of comfort enabling them to use elevators as well as slopes to meet the needs of people of determination and seniors.

RTA has accorded top priority to the aesthetic view of the Tram area, where landscaping was very much part of the Dubai Tram project. Works included landscaping, pedestrian crossing, bike racks and seating areas along the Tram track. The roads parallel to the tramway were also enhanced including 24 intersections.

 The Dubai Tram is the first tramway project outside Europe powered by a ground-based electric supply system extending along the track, thus obviating the need for catenary cables.

It is also the world's first tramway that uses Platform Screen Doors in passenger stations fully aligned with the tram’s doors opening and shutting mechanism, providing maximum convenience, safety and security for passengers, and at the same time protecting the quality of the air-conditioning in the interior of both stations and carriages from external climatic conditions.

The Tram won the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart Government Award as the best new service in 2015. – TradeArabia News Service