RTA launches new bus route from Meadows to Al Warqa

Dubai: The Public Transport Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a new bus route - X35 - to cover a number of new areas.

The launch follows a broad-based field study conducted by the agency to identify the needs for bus services in certain localities.

Population growth has created a rising demand for transportation services.

The new route starts from the Meadows near Dubai British School and ends at Al Warqa, near Sharjah American School, said Abdullah Al Ali, director of the bus department at the RTA Public Transport Agency.

It will pass through Dubai International Academy, Jebel Ali Racecourse, Emirates Holidays on Shaikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre Interchange, Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, Shindagha, Al Maktoum Road, Al Garhoud Interchange, Airport Terminal 1 (Arrivals) and Uptown Mirdiff Centre.

Al Ali said the current bus fleet has been beefed up.

Six new double-decker buses have been added to Route 10 bringing the total number on this route to 15. Route 93 will have the existing four standard buses replaced by 5 double-deckers and Route 98E will have the existing seven standard buses replaced by eight double-deckers.

The number of buses on Route 33 has been increased from 12 to 20 while Route 32C has received eight standard buses, raising its operating fleet to 16.

One articulated bus has been deployed on Route 12X, increasing the number of buses to nine.

A number of routes have also been cancelled due to lack of demand.

They include 6S, the two night routes (N4 and N5) and the Global Village Routes 103, 104 and 105, which have been discontinued as of February 21 with the end of Dubai Shopping Festival events.