Testing begins on Palm monorail system

ON TRACK: One of the trains is lifted onto the monorail track on Palm Jumeirah. (Supplied)

On-site testing has begun on the monorail system which will serve Palm Jumeirah in Dubai next year.

Palm developer Nakheel has received the monorail trains from Japan and initial tests on the first monorail service in the Middle East started on Monday.  

Two trains were raised on to the 5.45km track on Palm Jumeirah, and are now making initial journeys, closely monitored by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and operators SMRTE.

Robert Lee, Nakheel managing director, Investment Projects, said: “It’s great to see the Palm Monorail trains well and truly on track.”

Tests on the trains will be carried out for the next six months before the monorail is opened to the public in April next year.

The new system will carry thousands of passengers each day between Gateway Station at the trunk of Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis’ Aquaventure Station on the crescent, calling at Trump International Hotel & Tower and the luxury retail centre Palm Mall en route.

The system will ultimately connect to the Dubai Metro following the introduction of RTA’s Al Sufouh tramline, with direct links to Dubai Airport and other major transport hubs.

The Palm Monorail is being developed by a consortium of international companies led by the Marubeni Corporation.

The system is fully automatic and driverless, although an attendant will be on board at all times.

The monorail will initially carry up to 2,400 passengers per hour per direction in four separate trains, each made up of three cars.

At full capacity, the figure will rise to a maximum of 6,000 people in nine vehicles.

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