The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai is planning on doubling the number of trains on the Dubai Metro when 7 new stations open on the 25th April. The introduction of the new trains is expected to cut travel times for rush hour commuters by almost half.
The number of trains on the Dubai Metro Red Line will be increased to between 24 and 26 from 12 when the new stations are added to the system’s only operating line.
The 7 new stations opening on the 25th April are Emirates Station, Dubai Airport Terminal 1 Station, GGICO Station, Al Karama Station, World Trade Center Station, Marina Station and Ibn Battuta Station.
Maximum waiting times at stations should drop to 6 minutes from 10 minutes during rush hour although passengers will still have to wait up to 10 minutes between trains during off-peak times.
The Dubai Metro’s 52 km Red Line that runs between Al-Rashidiya and Jebel Ali, launched on 9th September 2009 with just a 3rd of its 29 stations operational.
Completion of the remaining 19 stations and construction of the Dubai Metro Green line have been delayed due to a dispute between contractors and the government over unpaid bills.
The Green Line on the Dubai Metro has now had its completion date pushed back until August 2011, more than a year later than originally planned.