Revealed: Dubai Tram to run for 20hrs a day from 5am

Dubai Tram will run for 20 hours every day, between
5am and 1am, it was confirmed on Monday.

The tram, which will operate every six
minutes during peak times and eight to 10 minutes during non-peak hours, is due
to begin operations in November this year, according to a report in Gulf Times.

According to the Roads and Transport Authority
(RTA), from Saturday to Thursday, the trams will run every eight minutes
between 5am and 7am and every seven and half minutes between 7am and
10am. From 10am to 8pm the trams will run every six minutes, stopping at each
station for an average of 30 seconds.

Between 8pm and 1am the frequency will return to
every eight minutes.

On Fridays trams will arrive every 10 minutes from
5am to 1pm, every seven and a half minutes from 1pm to 6pm, every six minutes
between 6pm and 8pm, every eight minutes between 8pm and 11pm, and every 10
minutes from 11pm to 1am.

“The operations of Dubai Tram will be aligned with
Dubai Metro and the two networks will complement each other. Trams will be part
of Dubai’s integrated Mass Transit system, connecting with Dubai Metro at two
stations — Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers,” an RTA official said to the
newspaper.

The two networks will connect through footbridges
at both the stations for a smooth and seamless interchange of passengers
between the two systems. The tram will also link with the Palm Jumeirah
Monorail.

A fleet of 11 trams will operate in phase one of
the project that will stretch for 10.6km from Al Sufouh to Dubai Marina.

Moving at an average commercial speed of 21.44km/h
and achieving a maximum speed of 50km/h, the trams will make a round trip in 39
minutes.

One of the safest globally, Dubai Tram is the first
in the world to have platform screen doors at all its stations, separating
passengers on the platform from the moving train.

“Dubai Tram stations are designed to be in harmony
with the metro stations, reflecting the region’s art and ethnic heritage, set
in an urban context. Measuring 45 metres each, seven of the eleven stations in
phase one are at grade and four are elevated,” added the official.

With a capacity to accommodate 370 passengers at a
time, the 44-metre-long trams have been divided into three classes – Gold,
Silver and women and children. Each tram will have seven cabins, one for Gold
class, two for women and four for Silver Class.

An eco-friendly mode of transport, Dubai Tram is
also special needs-friendly, having specially allocated spaces for passengers
with wheelchairs or mobility aids. The areas will be clearly marked with
wheelchair symbols.

The trams pass through at least 30 junctions,
crossings and intersections and the authorities are taking necessary
precautions to ensure the safety of all road users.

However, trams will have right of way and RTA has
issued guidelines for pedestrians, cyclists as well as motorists to follow while
in the vicinity of the Dubai Tram network. Violation of the guidelines may
attract heavy fines.