Dubai Metro’s 2020 track: Green Line to Academic City; Red Line to World Expo site

Close to 421 kilometers by the year 2030. That is the goal for the Dubai RTA’s Rail Agency in terms of total distance covered by trains in emirate. Speaking to the Al Roya newspaper Adnan Al Hammadi, CEO, RTA’s Rail Agency, said that 197 passenger stations, served by six Dubai Metro lines as well, will eventually be established. The plan includes three stages and by 2020, when population growth is expected to be 3.1 million people, the length of the rail network by 24.1 kilometres, and the Green Line will go from Jadaf to Dubai Academic City. Four lines are under construction, while the other two Metro lines (Red and Green) are already in service and will be increased. “Work on these lines will be subject to public-private partnership, which aims to involve the private sector in financing, construction and management,” he said. Here are excerpts from the interview: The RTA has set a strategic plan extends until 2030 to increase the train services in Dubai. What are the most important features of such a strategy? The RTA has prepared and adopted a general plan for the future rail network needed by Dubai until 2030. The RTA has priorities of implementation of such plans where it based on the expectations of urban growth in the emirate, which returned significantly over the past two years. The total population of the emirate of Dubai is anticipated to be 6.1 million by 2030. The plan includes proposals to create new lines of the Dubai Metro project, including Violet, Blue, Golden and Purple, in addition to the extension of the Red and Green lines, to cover new areas. The total length of railway lines needed to keep pace with the urban development which the emirate will witness it by 2030 would be about 421 km with 197 stations. What is the timeline for the implementation and operation of the new lines and the extension on the existing ones? The RTA has a strategic phase plan based on in-depth market study. The plan includes three stages and based on the total projects to be implemented until 2020, when population growth is expected to be 3.1 million people. This stage will increase the length of the rail network by 24.1 kilometers and the Green Line will reach Dubai Academic City. By the time Dubai’s population reaches its anticipated 4.1 million people by 2025, the Metro growth phase will include increasing the length of the network by 91km and 58 stations. The Jumeirah  and Sufouh trams will enter service in 2014. The Purple Line will assume the growth of population to 6.1 million people – increasing the network to 221 kilometers with 69 stations. By the beginning of 2030, the total length of the network will be 421 kilometers and 197 stations. How will the new network and the extension of the current Metro be financed? Many countries of the world are implementing major projects through partnership between the public and private sectors. This trend applies to major projects to be implemented by the RTA in the future, so the RTA will evaluate all possible funding options and choose the best for implementing these projects. The RTA disclosed previously some plans for new trains to serve the Expo 2020, in the event that Dubai hosts it. What is the nature of this proposal? The RTA has built its plan to meet the requirements and needs of the emirate in the event of hosting Expo 2020, which is one of the most important global events. We are studying several alternatives to connect the proposed site of the exhibition - near the Al Maktoum Airport in Jebel Ali - with the existing rail network. Alternatives depend mainly on the exploitation of the current network of Dubai Metro through the Red Line to connect with the proposed site of the Expo by increasing the length of the line to reach the site. The RTA will start assessing these alternatives in case Dubai is declared host of the event. The establishment and functioning of the Dubai Metro is currently different to the Union Railway Project which will link all emirates. How does the RTA intend to link with the Union Railway project? The main objective of the RTA is the integration of all rail systems in the future in Dubai, with existing ones. Dubai has been linked the Union trains at three stations - including Al Maktoum Airport. Development projects east of Dubai Bypass Road and Dubailand will also be linked, as will a station, located to the west of Meydan project. Emirates 24/7