First Dubai Tram coaches arrive in Jebel Ali Port this week

First Dubai Tram coaches arrive in Jebel Ali Port this week

Al Tayer: Test run starts in depot at the end of the month

RTA, Mohammed Al Munji

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the arrival of the first Dubai tram coaches to Jebel Ali port in the middle of this week. The tram which was shipped from France on 21 November, consists of 7 coaches and constitutes the first batch of 11 trams in the first phase, with nearly 14 trams to be added in the second phase to make a total of 25 Trams.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads and Transport Authority, said, "At the end of this month, the RTA will run the technical run of the tram in the depot's rails, and the test run will then be carried out in distance of about 2 kilometers outside the depot." He pointed out that this process would continue and expand gradually until the official operation of the tram later in November 2014.

He added: "Over the past months, the contractor has conducted the first technical test run of the tram on the 700-meter test track in Alstom Factory in France. The tests included various speeds, safety systems, electric propulsion of tram coaches, braking systems, sudden stop in emergency cases, and ground electric feed of the tram track, in addition to the catenary cables which will be used in the depot, and tram doors operation."

The technical test run undertaken in the factory also ensured the readiness of the tram, proper operation and performance of all control systems in all circumstances, air-conditioning  system, brakes electric feeding systems, coupling process, which is a mechanism for connecting rolling stock in the tram, power supply disconnection,  monitoring & control system, in addition to operational tests of the tram during both normal and emergency operation.

Al Tayer stated that the test run conducted at the Alstom's plant was successful by all means as the tram moved smoothly without wobble or noise thanks to the ground power feed in the entire tram track. Dubai tram is the world's first tramway project powered by a ground-based electric supply system extending along the track, thus obviating the need for catenary cables.

Al Tayer further added, "The Dubai Tramway extends 14.6 km alongside Al Sufouh Road, and the initial Phase of the project envisages the construction of a 10.6 km-long track starting from the Dubai Marina and stretching up to the Tram Depot near Dubai Police Academy. The Tram network comprises 17 passenger stations, 11 of which are covered under Phase I and spread across activity and population density areas along the tramway. The fleet comprises 11 trams in the initial phase, and 14 trams will be added in Phase II to make a total of 25 operating trams. The tram is expected to lift about 27,000 riders per day at the start of operations in 2014, and the ridership is bound to hit 66,000 riders per day by 2020."

"Each train measures 44 meters in length and has a capacity to accommodate about 300 riders. The Tram has a First Class (Gold Suite) and one cabin designated for ladies & children as well as a Silver Class cabin. The tram's carriages & stations will have deluxe interior finishing, and feature state-of-the-art technologies in the transmission and display of entertainment materials, with a passenger lounge of 44 meters, fitted with a glass barrier extending along the platform,  automatic doors closer / opener and automatic fair collection system," continued Al Tayer.

"The tram track basically extends at grade level along Al Sufouh Road but rises in an elevated section passing across certain parts of Dubai Marina due to the urban constructions in the locality. It links up with the Metro system at 2 stations, namely Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers via footbridges to facilitate the mobility and exchange of passengers between the two transit modes. The Tram will also be linked with the Monorail of The Palm Jumeirah at the entrance of the Palm from Al Sufouh Road to facilitate passenger movement between districts served by both modes," he elaborated.

The Dubai Tram is considered the world's first tramway project 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.

Captions:

·        Mattar Al Tayer

·        Trams shipment in France