Dubai: Dubai Tram served 20.8 million riders since its launch in November 2014, the Roads Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Sunday as the tram completes four years of service.
Launched on November 11, 2014, the Dubai Tram is the first tram network in the region and the first in the world with air-conditioned stations and synchronised platform screen doors.
Covering 10.6 kilometres, the tram is served by 11 stations, namely JBR 1, JBR 2, JLT, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Marina, Marina Towers, Mina Siyahi, Dubai Media City, Palm Jumeirah, Knowledge Village and Al Sufouh.
According to the RTA the tram helped reduce carbon footprint by 81 per cent.
“The Dubai Tram has revolutionised Dubai’s public transport system offering a new safe and convenient mass transport means covering several areas popular with tourists,” said Abdul Mohsin Ebrahim Younes, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency.
He added that the tram has significantly contributed in integrating with other mass transit modes including Dubai Metro and helped reduce traffic congestion especially in busy areas, thus supporting tourism and entertainment in Dubai.
“To ensure the smooth mobility of riders, RTA has linked some of the tram stations with four air-conditioned footbridges built to serve tram users as well as pedestrians on both sides of the road. Two footbridges were built on Al Sufouh Street, in addition to two other bridges linking with TECOM and Dubai Marina Mall to ensure safe pedestrian crossing,” added Younes.
The Dubai Tram is the first tramway project outside Europe powered by a ground-based electric supply system extending along the track, thus obviating the need for catenary cables.
The tram won the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart Government Award as the best new service in 2015.
