Dubai to receive first tram by December 2013
Production of the trams has hit the 30% mark, RTA chief says
Dubai’s Al Sufouh Tramway will receive its first tram by December 2013.
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The first of eight tram trains expected for the first phase of the Sufouh tram project will arrive in Dubai on December 11 from a manufacturing facility in France, said Mattar Al Tayer, chairman and executive director of Roads and Transport Authority, on Saturday.
Al Tayer shared the news as part of an inspection tour of the Sufouh Tram site that is now under construction.
The 14.6-kilometre tram way along Al Sufouh Road will encourage motorists to leave their car in favour of public transit, he said.
Production of the trams has hit the 30% completion mark, Al Tayer said, as he and RTA senior officials involved in the project were shown the elevated track, stations, and utility lines diversion points.
Adnan Al Hammadi, CEO of the Rail Agency, briefed Al Tayer on the project noting that it is on track for completion by the fourth quarter of 2014 and that more than 50% of the work is now finished. Roughly a quarter of tram stations are complete, about one-third of the rail tracks are completed and foundation works in the tram depot have exceeded 90 percent completion.
Al Sufouh 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.
