Coming along nicely

Coming along nicely

Although it’s taken its time – it is, after all, more than a year since the launch – the Dubai metro finally seems to be coming together.

October 14, 2010 2:18 by Eva Fernandes

The metro has been in the news a lot this week. From opening stations to test rides, Kipp takes a closer look at recent developments.

1. Five new stations open: This weekend five new stations will be open to the more than eager public. One thing’s for sure: the students of AUD and employees of Internet City who will be able to cut down their commute significantly upon the opening of the Nakheel station will be among them (yes, you guessed it right – Kipp works beside the station).

But leaving aside self-involvement, we are sure that employees in general will be glad to get closer to their work by getting off at the stations of Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Sharaf DG, First Gulf Bank and Business Bay. It is reported that with the opening of the stations, there will also be nearly 30 bus routes installed to link the stations to the nearby areas. The opening of these five means the number of stations remaining closed to the public is just three.

2. Decrease in waiting time: The opening of the stations isn’t something that those who won’t be using them will be necessarily glad for – more stations means more stops and longer journeys, after all. But don’t fret, because although the increase in the number of stations means an increase in the commute time for passengers, the metro has announced a welcome alteration. The time the train stops at each station will reduce by 10 seconds – a considerable reduction from the usual 30 seconds.

3. Increased frequency: What is more, the frequency of the trains will soon be altered to better accommodate demand. During rush hours a train will be at a station every six to eight minutes and every 10 minutes during non-rush hours.

4. Later Hours: If you depend on the metro to get around, then you will definitely understand the frustration that comes from having your social life being determined by metro timings. Well worry no more: thing just got less restrictive. By an hour, anyway. It’s not much, but Kipp is still very glad that the metro will be extending its time to be running from 6am to 12 midnight on Thursdays and from 1pm to 12 midnight on Fridays – that extra hour makes all the difference to busy socialites like us.

5. Progress on Green line: Another big difference will be the Green Line, which seems to be making relentless progress. This week Sheikh Mohammed was part of the test ride on the line; the Prime Minister was joined by his son Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as they travelled from Dubai Healthcare city, passing through the Khalid Bin Walid, Ghubaiba, Al Ras, the Qiyada station, and concluding in the Etisalat station in Qusais. What is more, designers have released promising plans for two of the stations on the Green Line that are to have a heritage look. The Al Ras and Al Ghubaiba station are designed to reflect the UAE’s history.