Tram in Dubai
The Dubai Tram (previously known as the Al Sufouh Tram) is a tramway located in Al Sufouh, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It runs for 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) along Al Sufouh Road from Dubai Marina to the Burj Al Arab and the Mall of the Emirates. The Dubai tram interchanges with Jumeirah Lakes Towers Station and Dubai Marina Station of the Dubai Metro’s Red Line. The Dubai Tram will also connect with the monorail of the Palm Jumeirah at the entrance of the Palm from Sufouh Road.
The first section, a 6.6 mile (10.6-kilometer) long tram line which serves 11 stations, was ceremonially inaugurated on 11th November 2014, by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with the line officially opening for public service at 6:30 am (UTC 4:30) on 12th November 2014.
The Dubai Tram is the first in the world to have platform screen doors at the stations and it is also the first tramway project outside Europe powered by a ground-based electric supply system.
Dubai Tram Construction
The planning and construction of the Dubai Tram was undertaken by a consortium of Alstom, Besix and Parsons.
Construction has been divided into 2 phases..
Phase 1, was expected to be completed in April 2011, however it was delayed until November 2014. Upon completion, Phase 1 of the tramline was to operate 11 trams, serving 11 stations, covering 6.6 mile (10.6-kilometer) of route. Phase 1 cost AED 3.18 Billion. Some 9.5 kilometres of the Dubai Tram project will be built as part of the first phase.
Phase 2 will add 14 more trams and 8 more stations along an additional 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) of route.
As of 10th October 2010, the construction work on the Dubai Tramway had progressed according to the scheduled completion of 2014. However the project was put on hold a month later due to lack of finances. The construction of the tramway was resumed in January 2011 with 30% of Phase 1 having been completed. In mid-2014, the tramline entered the testing phase, and it began operation in November 2014.
Dubai Tram Operations
The Dubai Tram is operated by Serco under contract to the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA).
Hours of operation and frequency
Dubai Tram services will run 20 hours each day and it will take 36 minutes to ride the entire length of the system. Trams run from 6:30 to 1:38. On Fridays, service starts at 9:00. Initially, the minimum headway is a tram every 6 minutes.
Tram Fares
The Dubai Tram has a fixed fare of AED 3 per ride regardless of the distance traveled making it one of the cheapest fares for trams, compared to other cities. The fare for passengers using the Red Nol Ticket will be AED 4 per ride.
The Nol Card is used by the passengers to check-in and check-out of the tram by scanning the card at the platform screen doors.