UAE | Traffic and Transport

Signalling issues force closure of some Dubai Metro stations

Stranded Dubai Metro passengers were ferried on buses along the Red Line covering the affected stations

  • By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter
  • Published: 19:41 May 1, 2010

Dubai Metro
  • Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
  • A technical hitch in the signalling system at Ibn Battuta Station lead to suspension of train operations.
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Dubai: Hundreds of passengers were stranded for hours at some of the Dubai Metro stations as the train operation remained partially suspended due to technical hiccups during the weekend peak hours.

Train operations remained suspended on the major part of the Red Line due to signalling problem at one of the newly opened stations - Ibn Battuta.

"Due to signaling issues, we curtailed the train operation between Al Rashidiya and Burj Khalifa Station and deployed buses to carry passengers to other stations," said Pehyman Younes Parham, Director of Marketing and Communication of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Parham said that technical hitch in the signalling system at Ibn Battuta Station lead to suspension of train operation. Such technical issues are normal as seven new stations were opened on Friday and additional trains were put on service, he said.

The problem started at around 4.30pm. It is the time when lot of people use the Metro to go shopping on the weekend.

"We are commuting passengers on buses which are run along the Red Line covering all the affected stations," said Parham.

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However, passengers got infuriated due to delays.

"I waited at the newly opened Dubai Marina Station for more than two hours but there was no train," said Jenny, who lives in Dubai Marina area. She said it was quite frustrating as there were no clear announcements.

Danny, a Filipino, said that he went to Ibn Battuta Mall on the train but ended up coming back in the bus as the train stopped operation for reasons he was not told at the stations.

"We were asked to disembark the train and leave after about 30 minutes' wait inside the train," he added.

Comments (13)

  1. Added 16:21 May 2, 2010

    Well I too was stuck in burjuman station , then I could manage to reach until Dubai mall station, from their I waited for all most an hour but no any bus toward ibn batutta. At last I called my friends to drop at home. Well I would suggest RTA to arrange some alternative or give us reason.

    Robie, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 14:37 May 2, 2010

    assalamu alaikum i was one of the metro passenger yesterday.i took ticket from al Rashidya to ibn batuata mall. the didnt inform that there is a delay in train when i took the ticket it was around 4:30pm when i went upstair i came to know that there was a delay in train due to some technical problem. they announced that there will be 15 minutes delay in train.but i waited more than 1 hour there was nothing different the train didnt arrive.i request my metro to announce properly if there is delay in train before we take ticket.

    Yasar Ajman, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 14:35 May 2, 2010

    People who expect 100% uptime on a system as complicated as the Metro are living in a dream land. While it is important that vital services function to a high degree of reliability, no system made by man is fail proof. Secondly, I am frankly astonished by the complaints on this section about the unhelpfulness of the Metro's staff. That was never my experience while I was in Dubai. I cannot praise the staff enough for all the times my inquiries and beginner's questions were answered with courtesy. Show me another metro system in the world as safe and clean as Dubai's.

    Abdulelah Dandachi, Homs, Syrian Arab Republic

  4. Added 13:02 May 2, 2010

    actually i was one of the passenger in metro yesterday the train was delayed an hour the bus was from dubai mall to other metro station metro guys are really doing nice jobs my metro my city

    Yasar Ajman, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  5. Added 12:51 May 2, 2010

    i would say metro is a blessing for all.....and why so much issues(on one days delay) we never had a metro few months ago, still we managed with an alternative.i salute this government because they have done their best.i too was victim at ibn batuta mall with my 10 month old,and had to reach burjuman centre as our car was parked there...we had to wait a little for the metro replacement buses as it was an unexpected situation for all even the staffs but they all did their jobs really perfect i would say..the best thing was they still maintained their smile-for the Same repeated questionare session by hundreds.Its easy for 1 say i wont use metro-but it would be alittle difficult 2 make the statement practical.

    Ameenah, Dubai, Afghanistan

  6. Added 11:51 May 2, 2010

    I was traveling first time on metro on Friday from Burjaman to Emirates Mall, one of child of one passenger pressed the help button. We were waiting for someone to pick the line from another end to inform him/her about the mistake. But believe me no one picked the line and after various ringing the line dead/ or disconnected. RTA must take appropriate action to employ someone on weekends also as the need will not arrive on weekdays only.

    Syed Sumair, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  7. Added 11:34 May 2, 2010

    Dubai Metro should place announcements on buses if there are some technical glitches so that passengers wont have to go down from the buss to the metro station just to be informed that there are some technical problems and then we have to take the bus again which is so inconvenient.

    Anna, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  8. Added 09:58 May 2, 2010

    I was one of the victims of the breakdown, as I decided to leave my car behind at Ibn Battuta and take the metro to BurJuman for the weekend shopping trip. However, I must say that despite the breakdown the RTA staff were very courteous in explaining the situation and services were resumed from Rashidya to Dubai Mall in just 30 min. No sooner did we come out of Dubai Mall station, there was a metro-replacement bus waiting to take us to Ibn Battuta. It was an excellent response by RTA and I am completely satisfied. The metro is still very new and we should expect such technical glitches; but the response from RTA was commendable. The only suggestion would be for RTA to constantly keep the public informed about the situation & the alternatives through the public address system.

    Suhail F, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  9. Added 09:38 May 2, 2010

    Am staying in Discovery Gardens, yesterday me and my wife was waiting for a bus that come from Jebelali bus stn to Muhassniah-4.. almost 10-12 people were there waiting for the same bus.. after 1 hour we came to know that there is no BUS.. when i enquired with "RTA" they said the bus route had been suspended.. this is the biggest draw back from "RTA" and the authorities not informing the people the right info!! yesterday it happened to my family and others.. tomorrow it may happen to you also .. RTA please try to understand the needs of middle class and normal people..

    Akbar, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  10. Added 08:01 May 2, 2010

    What happened was very frustrating. Everyone working for the metro has no information which bus to take to go to our final destination.We waited for more than an hour in Dubai Mall to go to MOE until metro started operating to Internet City. When we asked the information at the metro station in Burjuman, Jafiliya and Dubai Mall, they dont know which bus will go where and told us to just wait. IT was so clear that they were not trained enough to help people and to handle situations like this. I dont want to take the metro anymore. ONLY IN ONE INSTANCE, EVERYBODY PROVED TO BE VERY INEFFICIENT.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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