It's Dubai's big night as the first Metro train carrying a full load of passengers rolled into history books on Wednesday marked by fireworks and a New Year party-like mood.

At precisely the 9th second, of the 9th minute at 9pm on September 9, 2009, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, swiped his “Nol'' access card, marking the first passenger to board the world's newest and longest driverless light rail system.

It was a move full of symbolism and can-do spirit at a time of global economic recession. The Metro's Red Line with 29 stations was built in record time of four years.

Before the inaugural run, a quick preview of the Metro's history at the Mall of the Emirates started with a 3-D presentation capturing Dubai milestones, from the camel caravan era to the dredging of the Creek.

In the minutes leading to the commercial rollout, a sizeable crowd had gathered around Interchange 4 and traffic ground to a halt as a number of vehicles slowed down to have a look a police helicopter hovered overhead.

As the train rolled, fireworks lit up the sky and traffic went haywire on both sides of the Shaikh Zayed Road as hundreds of motorists stopped by to get a glimpse of the inaugural run.

The five-cab train fully loaded with VVIPs and mediamen disappeared from view within seconds from the Mall of the Emirates station to its next stop, eastward to Rashidiya, the far end of the Red Line.

The train made brief stops at the Dubai Financial Centre station, Khalid Bin Walid, Union Square, Terminal 3 and ended up with a press conference at Rashidiya station.

People who came in taxis and families who drove with their children parked by the roadside to see the launch events unfold.

Mamen, 11-year-old student of Indian High School in Dubai, came with his little brother and parents from Al Quos to watch the launch. Santosh, a Nepalese worker, came with his Filipina girlfriend, to witness the event. “I'll definitely ride the Metro,'' said Santosh.

Three trains were flagged off -- the first train carrying security personnel, the second train followed with the VVIPs and at least 40 journalists invited to board the inaugural train, and the third five-cab train carried about 500 people, including the 400 winners of a “gold'' ticket and some journalists.

The launch came weeks after rigorous trials to sort out the glitches in the Dh28-billion system, especially the software-related snags that control the opening and closing of platform screen doors and train doors.

Only 10 stations will open on Wednesday out of the 29 planned on the Red Line.

Decoration on stations

The RTA's distinct red and white colours will find a reflection in elaborate red and white flower décors at various stations, said Deepali Gupta, Operation Manager,
Int'l Business, Black Tulip, the company entrusted with the inaugural flowers and floral décor.

“In keeping with the red and white theme, we are using Hydrengea (Holland), Cymbidium (Holland), Gingers (Netherlands, Thailand and Malaysia), Oriental White Lilies (Netherlands), White Roses (Kenya, Holland), Anthuriums (Mauritius, Holland) and Orchid Mokara (Thailand/Malaysia) flowers,'' Deepali told XPRESS.

The highlight of the décor will be an arrangement of three 120 cm vases at each station. Each design rests on three 120 cm glass plinths with red sticks to mark Red Line.

“We have used red stalk flowers in these vases to signify the launch of the red line,'' Deepali added.

XPRESS has learnt that each station will have a special legacy piece. The Financial Centre Station will have a Commemorative Coin, the Khalid Bin Walid Station (Burjuman), an Etched Poem, Union Square Station – Time Capsule - Message to the Future, Dubai Airport Terminal 3 Station - Mosaic Portrait and the Rashidiya Station a LEGO Sculpture.

By Bobby Naqvi, Jay B Hilotin and Derek Baldwin

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