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28 March 2024

Metro Express: Rashidiya-Jebel Ali cut by 10 mins

Published
By Majorie Van Leijen

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority will launch a new Metro services this October, aimed at reducing the total travel time for early morning metro users on the Red Line. 

Two additional trains in each direction will service 13 Metro stations, skipping 14 stations in between. 

This trip is expected to reduce the total time between Rashidiya and Jebel Ali Station by 10 minutes. 

The trip currently takes 60-70 minutes. 

One train will start at 05:30am in both directions, followed by another train at 05.40am. 

Regular train services, stopping at all stations, will resume at 05:50am. 

On the less frequently used stations there will also be a shorter boarding time come October.

Currently the average time to board is 30 seconds.

The RTA did not say by how much this would reduce, but the move expects to cut a total trip down by 1.40 minutes.

"This is a test that will run for five months. If successful it will be applied on a permanent basis," said Ramadan Abdulla, Director of RTA's Rail Operations.

He added that the service is introduced based on customer demand and usage data.

"This service is to serve the early workers who will benefit from a speedy trip to work." 

The stations  that will be served by the express train are Al Rashidiya, Emirates, Al Rigga, Union, Khalid bin Al Waleed, Al Karama, Al Jafiliya, Emirates Towers, Noor Islamic Bank, First Gulf Bank, Dubai Internet City, Ibn Battuta and Jebel Ali. 

No additional costs will be levied for use of this train.