Dubai: As work on the Dubai Metro is being fast-tracked people in Dubai will see the driverless trains running on a test track in the city from the middle of next year, said a senior official.
"The track for the trial run for the trains is being completed on Shaikh Zayed Road near Jebel Ali and people will be able to see trains running up and down the tracks before August next year," said Abdul Majid Al Khaja, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rail Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The trial run will continue for at least 13 months until the completion and launch of the metro service's red line in September 2009.
Al Khaja told Gulf News a 4.5 km-long test track was being prepared for the trial. "We have already put in place a 132 kilovolts electric station to provide power for the trains," he said.
He said no paying passengers would be carried during the trial run. Al Khaja said that the first two trains had already been tested in Japan and the RTA team witnessed the trial run.
Several door function tests were carried out which included obstacle detection. Similar tests will be conducted in Dubai during the trial run and the air-conditioning system will be thoroughly checked. He said the trains would start arriving in Dubai in March 2008.
Al Khaja said in addition to the initial trial run there will also be a test run throughout the track a couple of months before starting the operation in September 2009.
"During the full trial run, we will carry some people onboard, including journalists, to make them go through the process and give their feedback. We will check our system from entering the metro station, buying a ticket, riding the train and then getting out of the station," he said.
Accessible: Fares affordable for all
Although a fare structure for the Dubai Metro has not yet been decided it will be affordable for all, said Abdul Majid Khaja, CEO of the Rail Agency.
"We want to have a higher number of commuters and to achieve this target, we have to have an affordable fare structure," he added.
