Dubai: Dubai Metro operational time will be extended up to one hour with effect from Friday, but only on Thursdays and Fridays, said a senior official.
"Now passengers will be able to use the Metro from 6am to 12 midnight on Thursdays and from 1pm to 12 midnight on Fridays," said Adnan Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of the Rail Agency of Dubai Roads and Transport (RTA). Currently, the Metro operates from 6am to 11pm from Saturday to Thursday and from 2pm to 12 midnight on Fridays.
The operational hours of the Metro, however, will remain same during weekdays from 6am to 11pm.
The train timing has been changed coinciding with the opening on Friday of five more stations on the Red Line. The new stations to open include: Nakheel, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Sharaf DG, First Gulf Bank and Business Bay stations.
The train frequency will also be adjusted from Friday. The service frequency will vary depending on the weekdays and the peak hours. The frequency will be from six to eight minutes during rush hours, 10 minutes from 9pm to 11pm from Saturday to Wednesday, eight minutes on Thursday and Friday, 10 minutes from 11pm to 12:00 midnight
"These changes have been made after great demand from commuters who are the backbone of public transport projects and with whose help we can upgrade our services to world-class standards," Al Hammadi said.
Train stopping time at the stations will also be reduced from 30 seconds to 20 seconds to gain time as number of operational stations will increase from the existing 21 to 26 seconds. The RTA will also increase the number of trains with the opening of new stations.
Meanwhile, the RTA has carried out site surveys covering the neighbourhood of all stations to be opened shortly to launch new feeder bus routes. Some 28 buses will be deployed at the five stations opening on Friday.
