Dubai: After months of anticipation, reporting and analysis, I am finally on board the Dubai Tram. And, mark my word, it is simply magnificent.
Though I have not come across many trams in the past, this beauty on wheels is indeed a head-turner.
I was honoured to take the inaugural ride on November 11 on the day of its official opening and then went for a fun ride on November 12 when it opened to the public.
But it’s one thing to go on a joyride and another to use it as a daily mode of transport.
So, I was keen to take a ride as a regular passenger, just to see how the tram treats the commuters on a routine trip.
Step foot in it and you know this is a welcome addition to the city’s rapidly expanding mass transit network.
To state a fact, not many trams in the world can boast of the technology and user-friendly features that are available on Dubai Tram.
It’s sleek, safe and convenient and, above all, it’s the best way to get around the densely populated Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).
What I like the most about Dubai Tram is its accessibility to the community and its connectivity with Dubai Metro. It embodies the idea of integrated mass transit network envisaged by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The two tram stations that connect with Dubai Metro — Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers — are so closely linked that you don’t feel you are walking between two different modes of transport.
I took a Metro ride at around 11am from Sharaf DG station and reached Dubai Marina in 15 minutes, heading straight to the connecting tram station for the onward journey. I was actually surprised at how easy it is to ichange between the Metro and the tram.
More surprises were in store for me inside the tram as I didn’t expect it to be packed around noon on a weekday, even though it’s the first day of the service.
Though not quite as packed as the Metro was on day one, the tram was full of life — joyriders taking selfies, housewives on a pleasure ride and bragging about it on the phone to their friends, groups of elderly expatriates having a leisure ride and comparing the ride to those in their native countries.
And there were regular commuters, too, who were, in fact, the happiest of the lot.
From Dubai Marina, I took a trip towards JBR. Apart from a sharp jerk as the tram started, the ride was quite smooth and fun.
Though it is a bit slow for my liking, it gives you the leisurely feel of a Saturday afternoon, when you might as well hop on and kill an hour just for Dh3, all the while enjoying your smartphone on free Wifi.
Heading back, I went all the way to the other end of the network – Al Sufouh – and hopped out to take another tram back to Dubai Marina. I found crossing between the platforms pretty safe and easy.
At every station I saw at least 50 people jumping in and out, which speaks volumes about the eagerness of people to try the new mode of transport.
At 10.6km, 11 stations and 11 trams, it’s a relatively small network for an urban tramway, but it’s a big step in the right direction as extension work will start soon.
It would no doubt be more useful to have the network extended all the way to Jumeirah 1.
With plenty of records to its name, including first air-conditioned tram stations, first stations with platform screen doors and first tram in the world with gold class cabins — it gives you a feel of a small-scale metro.
As usual, a job well done by RTA.
