Dubai Tram: Fireworks, bell and cheering crowds

Is the Dubai Tram connected to any other modes of public transport?

- Stations 3 and 5 of the tram are connected to the Dubai Metro via two pedestrian bridges that link with Damac (former Dubai Marina) and Jumeirah Lakes Towers stations.

Station 9 of the tram connects to The Palm Monorail.

Meanwhile, stations 2 and 4 will allow passengers to connect with the RTA’s marine transport facilities.

However, both the monorail and the marine transport have their fares calculated beyond the scope of zone two’s charges.
Is there a time limit to use the Dh3 fare across the tram, the metro and the bus within the same zone or adjacent zones that is travel of less than 3km?

- Al Madani said: “Like before, the customer has three hours to complete a trip. You can ride the metro for three hours and pay the same amount, irrespective of how many zones they are travelling between or mixing their modes between the bus, tram or metro.

“They can make up to three mode changes. But when they make the change, they are granted a 30-minute time limit to switch between modes for flexibility.”

How far will my Dubai Tram fare take me?

- The RTA has divided the city of Dubai across seven tariff zones, with the Dubai Tram itself falling in Zone 2 of the city’s transport module.

Commuters travelling across the seven tariff zones will find their fares calculated according to the three tier levels of travel, which have now been revised to coincide with the Dubai Tram launch.

Level 1 comprises travelling within one single zone or travelling between two adjacent zones that does not exceed 3km for Dh3.

Earlier, travelling less than 3km would cost Dh1.80, while travelling within the same zone would cost Dh2.30 and two adjacent zones was Dh4.10.

Abdulla Ali Al Madani, CEO, Corporate Technical Support Services, RTA explained: “A customer that lives on the edge of one zone and works on the edge of a second zone, less than 3km away should not be made to pay for two zones.

“We want to make life easier for the customer so we will charge him only for a single zone of travelling,” he said.

Similarly, Level 2 comprises travelling across two zones, exceeding more than 3km, while Level 3 comprises commuting across all zones.

Al Madani stated: “We are not charging the customer for the mode of transport they are using; we are charging them for their trip instead. For example, if the customer is using the tram and the metro within the same zone, then they will still only be charged the flat fare of Dh3.”

What are the timings?
- Commencing from Wednesday, November 12, the Dubai Tram will operate for 19 hours on weekdays, with a shortened schedule on Fridays.

Passengers can ride the Dubai Tram from 6.30am to 1.30am from Saturday to Thursday; on Fridays, the Dubai Tram will start service at 9am and operate until 1.30am.
 

- How many carriages will the Dubai Tram offer, split across which classes of travel?

- The Dubai Tram will have seven carriages, one for Gold class, four cars for Silver class and two cabins that are marked for women and children. 

- How far will my Dubai Tram fare take me?

- The RTA has divided the city of Dubai across seven tariff zones, with the Dubai Tram itself falling in zone two of the city’s transport module.

Commuters travelling across the seven tariff zones will find their fares calculated according to the three tier levels of travel, which have now been revised to coincide with the Dubai Tram launch.

Level 1 comprises travelling within one single zone or travelling between two adjacent zones that does not exceed 3kms for Dh3.
Earlier, travelling less than 3kms would cost Dh1.80, while travelling within the same zone would cost Dh2.30 and two adjacent zones was Dh4.10.

Abdulla Ali Al Madani, CEO, Corporate Technical Support Services, RTA explained: “A customer that lives on the edge of one zone and works on the edge of a second zone, less than 3kms away should not be made to pay for two zones. We want to make life easier for the customer so we will charge him only for a single zone of travelling.”

Similarly, Level 2 comprises travelling across two zones, exceeding more than 3km, while Level 3 comprises commuting across all zones. Al Madani stated: “We are not charging the customer for the mode of transport they are using; we are charging them for their trip instead. For example, if the customer is using the tram and the metro within the same zone, then they will still only be charged the flat fare of Dh3.”

- What is the Tram fare structure like?

The Dubai Tram will charge a flat rate of Dh3 on the Silver class and Dh6 on the Gold class on the Nol cards to cross through all 11 tram stations on its route. Those purchasing the red or the ‘anonymous’ tickets will be charged Dh4 for Silver and Dh8 for Gold.

Meanwhile, all senior citizens and students registered to carry the Blue Nol card will be eligible to a 50 per cent discount on fares.

- When does the Dubai Tram launch for the general public?

Even though the Dubai Tram officially launches on November 11, the general public will only be able to ride the city’s latest mode of transport from November 12.

- What is the Dubai Tram route?

The tram will operate across 11 stations, with stops 1 to 4 forming one loop in Dubai Marina, while stops 5-11 will form a wider loop down Al Sufuoh.

The tram will commence at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) with station 2 being JBR 2, station 3 as JLT and station 4 being Dubai Marina Mall.

Station 5 will take you to Dubai Marina, station 6 being Marina Towers, station 7 being Mina Seyahi, station 8 being Media City, station 9 as Palm Jumeirah and station 10 as Knowledge Village.

The final station will be Al Sufouh, near Dubai Police Academy, following which the tram will make a loop at the depot and head back.

VIP, 5pm

The Dubai Tram officially launches today with a special VIP reception scheduled for 5pm before the inaugural journey.
 
Residents will be able to track the first ride and its VIP guests as the 44-metre tram makes its way across the 10.6km stretch on its maiden trip.
 
Even though the Dubai Tram officially launches on November 11 (later today), the general public will only be able to ride the city’s latest mode of transport from November 12 (tomorrow).
 
The tram will operate across 11 stations, with stops 1 to 4 forming one loop in Dubai Marina, while stops 5-11 will form a wider loop down Al Sufuoh.
 
The tram will commence at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) with station 2 being JBR 2, station 3 as JLT and station 4 being Dubai Marina Mall.
 
Station 5 will take you to Dubai Marina, station 6 being Marina Towers, station 7 being Mina Seyahi, station 8 being Media City, station 9 as Palm Jumeirah and station 10 as Knowledge Village.
 
The final station will be Al Sufouh, near Dubai Police Academy, following which the tram will make a loop at the depot and head back.
 
Fares

Dubai Tram concept video released by RTA

The Dubai Tram will charge a flat rate of Dh3 on the Silver class and Dh6 on the Gold class on the Nol cards to cross through all 11 tram stations on its route.
 
Those purchasing the red or the ‘anonymous’ tickets will be charged Dh4 for Silver and Dh8 for Gold.
 
All senior citizens and students registered to carry the Blue Nol card will be eligible to a 50 per cent discount on fares.
 
The RTA has divided the city of Dubai across seven tariff zones; Dubai Tram falls in zone two of the city’s transport module.
 
Commuters travelling across the seven tariff zones will find their fares calculated according to the three tier levels of travel, which have now been revised to coincide with the Dubai Tram launch.
 
Level 1 comprises travelling within one single zone or travelling between two adjacent zones that does not exceed 3kms for Dh3. Earlier, travelling less than 3kms would cost Dh1.80, while travelling within the same zone would cost Dh2.30 and two adjacent zones was Dh4.10.
 
RTA states a customer that lives on the edge of one zone and works on the edge of a second zone, less than 3kms away should not be made to pay for two zones. Similarly, Level 2 comprises travelling across two zones, exceeding more than 3km, while Level 3 comprises commuting across all zones.
 
RTA states it is not charging the customer for the mode of transport they are using; it is charging them for their trip instead. For example, if the customer is using the tram and the metro within the same zone, then they will still only be charged the flat fare of Dh3.
 
The customer has three hours to complete a trip. You can ride the metro for three hours and pay the same amount, irrespective of how many zones you are travelling between or mixing your modes between the bus, tram or metro.
 
You can make up to three mode changes. But when you make the change, you have a 30-minute time limit to switch between modes for flexibility.
 
Tram to Metro to Monorail

Dubai Tram Safety video released by RTA

Stations 3 and 5 of the tram are connected to the Dubai Metro via two pedestrian bridges that link with Damac (former Dubai Marina) and Jumeirah Lakes Towers stations. 
 

Tram details
 
The Dubai Tram will have seven carriages, one for Gold class, four cars for Silver class and two cabins that are marked for women and children.
 
Commencing from Wednesday, November 12, the Dubai Tram will operate for 19 hours on weekdays, with a shortened schedule on Fridays. Passengers can ride the Dubai Tram from 6.30am to 1.30am from Saturday to Thursday; on Fridays, the Dubai Tram will start service at 9am and operate until 1.30am.
 
The RTA will operate eight trams at 10-minute intervals during peak hours (approximately 7am to 9am in the mornings and 5pm-7pm in the evenings) and at 12-minute intervals during off-peak time.
 
It will take 42 minutes to complete the entire loop, with the tram operating at 30kmph, with the potential to go up to 50kmph.
 
Nol, please

While passengers will be able to use their existing Nol cards for the Dubai Tram service, a special system will be introduced where a stand near the platform doors will allow passengers to validate their rides upon entering and exiting the tram.
 
These Ticket Validation Machines or TVM will require commuters to check-in with their Nol cards upon entering the tram and check-out once their ride has been completed, similar to how the system currently works on the RTA run buses.
 
When you are checking in for any public transport mode you need to first have minimum Dh7.5 on your Nol card, which is the maximum cost you would pay to travel across all zones.
 
The RTA has stated the 44-metre long tram stations will come equipped with the TVMs, with stations 1-3 housing four machines on the platform as they are single platform stations; stations 4-11 are dual platforms so will house four machines on each.
 
The 44-metre long Dubai Tram can ferry up to 405 passengers, or six passengers per metre-square across the seven cabins, with 60 fixed seats and 12 tip-up seating. Designated areas will also be made available for people with special needs.
 
Manned and unmanned TVMs will be available to purchase Nol cards or anonymous red tickets at all tram stations. The RTA has also ensured that all major supermarkets in the area, including Spinneys and Carrefour, will also retail Nol cards.
 

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