Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) is re-evaluating plans for Dubai Metro's Purple and Blue lines, to integrate them with various tram lines being built in the emirate, a senior RTA official told Emirates Business.
"With the aim of developing an integrated Rail Transit Master Plan, RTA has commenced a new study to update and develop planned Metro and tram lines," said Abdul Majeed Al Khaja, CEO, Rail Agency.
"A consultant [Parsons Brinck-erhoff] was appointed early this year to study and determine future rail lines that are required to meet the demand in Dubai up to the year 2030," he said.
The results of the study are expected by this year-end and will take into account the economic situation besides overlapping developments. "The outcome will be based on the economic scenario and projected future developments," Al Khaja added.
Dubai Airports' plans to develop a central rail terminal with connections to its two international airports, which has been proposed as an alternative to Dubai Metro's Purple Line, has allegedly led to a disagreement between Dubai Airports and the RTA.
Al Khaja said the agency is taking a holistic view of the network and will ensure it takes into consideration other developments.
"The study will also define appropriate alignment corridors for the proposed lines, overall network requirements, identify best integration locations with existing rail and other modes of transport, and provide a capital cost estimate and implementation programme for the proposed new lines," he said.
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