Dubai Metro Project Still On-Track

Dubai Metro goes full steam ahead

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/09/01/15/10275654.html

01/16/2009 09:04 AM | By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter

Dubai: The Metro project is on schedule and has not been affected by the global economic meltdown, said a senior official at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA.)

“We are right on track as there is no reason for us to delay the Dubai Metro project,” said Abdul Majid Al Khaja, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rail Agency at the RTA, quashing rumours about delays.

In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Al Khaja spoke at length about the Dubai Metro project and confirmed that operations would start on the Metro’s Red Line next September 9, as announced as part of the first phase of the project. Operations on the Green Line are scheduled to start in March 2010 — some six months after the trains start running on the Red Line.

“We have been able to achieve all our milestones so far and are determined to launch the project on time,” he said.

Successful trial

Al Khaja said the trial run for the full length of the 52.1 km Red Line from the Jebel Ali Industrial Area to Rashidiya will start at the end of January.

“We have been doing a successful trial of trains on an 11km track from Jebel Ali to Ibn Battuta Mall. Now people will see trains running the full length of the Red Line until the service is opened to the public in September this year,” Al Khaja added.

He said the entire route of the Red Line from Jebel Ali to Rashidiya was ready. The tracks will be completed this month…