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28 March 2024

Dubai Tram now serves JBR, JLT, Marina

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

A new route has been incorporated on the tracks of Dubai Tram, enabling passengers to make short and convenient trips within Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Jumeirah Beach Road (JBR) area.

The new route encompasses the loop that Dubai Tram makes between the stations 1-4, and will not extend beyond these stations, only serving the stations included in this loop.

The ‘loop route’ will be launched today [December 14].

“There will be the big loop, which serves all the stations and there will be a smaller loop, which serves stations 1-4,” said Muhammad Al Mudharreb, Director of Rail Operations at Road and Transport Authority.

From stations JBR 1 (station 1), JBR 2 (station 2), Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) (station 3) and Dubai Marina Mall (station 4) the tram will pass every six minutes, serving four stations in the direction mentioned.

“There will be two trams at any given time circling the smaller loop, and one tram at any given time on the remaining track. This means that there will be a headway of six minutes at stations 1-4, while there will be a headway of 12 minutes at stations 5-11,” explained Al Mudharreb.

Starting operations as such from Sunday onwards, a new timetable will be released accordingly. “This time schedule is currently being finalised and will be presented on the stations from tomorrow [Sunday],” he said.

The loop-within-a-loop route will enable passengers to quickly get from one point to another in the popular areas of Dubai Marina and JBR.

Previously, travel between stations may have been long, because of the single-track structure in the ‘loop area’.

Dubai Tram approached the loop from Dubai Marina Metro station (station 5), and bent towards JBR, from where it continued to JLT and Dubai Marina.

If a passenger wanted to travel in the opposite direction, for example from JLT to JBR, he could either sit out the entire route from JLT to Al Sufouh and back, a trip consuming 40 minutes, or get out at Dubai Marina and change direction, as a dual-track system applies from stations 5-11.

Although the single-track system remains in the ‘loop area’, the smaller loop will be shorter in distance, taking less than half the time to complete the loop. A trip from JLT to JBR would require crossing 2-3 stations only.

“The reason why we have incorporated this route is because the figures of the first month of tram operations showed a great growth in the number of passengers in this particular area.

“The most popular stations were JLT and Dubai Marina,” he revealed, adding that Dubai Tram is most popular between 5-8pm.

Although ridership numbers of the first month of Dubai Tram operations will be revealed later this week, Mudharreb said that operations had been very smooth.

“We believe both residents and tourists have realised Dubai Tram provides a convenient, comfortable and affordable mode of transport.
 
“With the early signs of tram ridership figures, which are very positive - daily and especially on weekends -, we are confident that Dubai Tram will contribute effectively in reducing the traffic volumes in the area it serves.”

Some initial challenges are the check-in and -out procedure, which requires passengers to swipe their Nol card at the Nol card reader on the station, before boarding and after getting off the tram.

“We have found that there are passengers who do not check out their NOL cards after alighting from the Tram.
 
“Passengers are also found boarding the wrong cabins in the Tram, while there are specific cabins for Women & Children and Gold Class NOL card holders,” Mudharreb commented.
 
“Being it a new system, it is anticipated that Dubai Tram passengers may require time to get used to the check-in and check-out process.
 
“We will continue to conduct awareness campaign to remind passengers to check out their NOL cards after alighting from the tram and to obey the rules and signs that have been put in place. Staff will also be available to check on passengers and provide the necessary assistance.”
 
Based on the forecasted number of tram users in 2015, it is estimated that Dubai Tram will carry up to 27,000 passengers daily. This number is expected to gradually increase up to 66,000 by 2020, he said.

“This is what is going to reduce the traffic volumes along the main roads in its catchment area. We believe that residents and employees, as well as visitors to the area will have an ideal option to avoid using their private cars and move around the area with comfort and easiness.”