Runaway Train

The RTA is currently understood to be in talks
with advisers regarding the development of
“metro cities” around selected metro stations
and to investigate financing options and
structures for the extensions.
• the Green Line will be extended by 20.6 km, 12 km of which
will be elevated while 8.6 km will be underground. 11
The RTA has signed a contract with the Expolink consortium
of Alstom, Acciona and Gulermak to design and build Route
2020, which it is estimated to cost USD2.9bn. 12 Alstom
will supply 50 five-car metropolis trains for the extension,
15 for Route 2020 and 35 to upgrade the Dubai Metro. 13
Preliminary work began on Route 2020 in September 2016.
It is expected that 25,000,000 visitors will visit Dubai
during World Expo 2020, and that Route 2020 will have a
ridership of 125,000 riders per day in 2020 (about 20 per
cent of the number of daily visitors to the Expo), according
to the RTA. By 2030, that is expected to rise to 275,000. 14
Further down the track the RTA has plans to grow its public
transport numbers even further. The RTA hopes that the
use of the metro will continue to increase and that by 2030
30 per cent of all journeys will be taken by rail, up from
6 per cent in 2006, 10 per cent in 2011 and 13 per cent in
2014. Although no work has begun on the other extensions
detailed below, nor have the routes been confirmed, it
should be noted that the Chairman of the RTA confirmed
in February 2013 that three new metro lines have received
approval from the Prime Minister and Vice President of the
UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, and will be constructed by 2030:
• the Purple Line (connecting the city’s two airports);
• the Gold Line (running in a loop inland from the coast); and
• the Blue Line (running to DWC airport).
Taking the above into account, in the long term, it is
ultimately envisaged that the Dubai Metro layout will be
421 km long and have 197 stations. 15
The RTA is currently understood to be in talks with advisers
regarding the development of “metro cities” around
selected metro stations and to investigate financing
options and structures for the extensions. The RTA has,
in addition, made good progress with a project for the
development of the site surrounding Union Square Station.
There are, however, no anticipated tenders for release in
relation to these in the near future. Nontheless the market
should remain on top of developments as these represent
significant opportunities in a sector and location with
a proven track record of delivery and a desire to tap into
the best providers in the world to make its systems and
developments market leading internationally.
Runaway train | January 2017
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