One year @ Tram-savvy Dubai: Next stop? Burj Al Arab, MoE [video]

One year ago, on November 11, 2014, Dubai Tram made its first ride - a ride celebrated with fireworks, a cheering crowd and worldwide coverage. Today, thousands of passengers get onboard the tram every day, and it has become an appreciated mode of transport for residents and tourists alike. From the start of operations until end-October this year, Dubai Tram clocked 3.725 million riders, said the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). In celebration of 365 days of Dubai Tram we look back at how this newcomer to the emirate has evolved. Route, time and speed Eleven trams serve 11 stations on a 11-kilometre stretch - was the motto when the tram was first introduced. Although this is technically still correct, some changes were made, and reversed along the way. For a long while, a shorter loop was introduced to the Dubai Tram route, serving passengers travelling directly from Dubai Marina Mall to Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) or Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) (stations 1-4). This service was cancelled in September this year. Due to the single track structure at these locations, passengers could only travel in one direction; from JBR to the following stations. With the introduction of the short loop, two trams were serving the four stations on this route only, while a third tram served the larger loop. However, a study revealed that only 6 per cent of total riders made use of this service during the period from December 2014 to May 2015, and hence the short loop became history. With the cancellation of the short route, the total transit time was slashed from 54 minutes to 45 minutes, and the service frequency reduced to 8 minutes. Dubai Tram moves at a maximum pace of 50kmph. “There are people who have said that Dubai Tram is relatively slow, but it operates according to its capacity,” said Mohammad al Mudharrab, Director of Rail Operations at the RTA. “The speed limit we have set suits the area the tram serves. Further, comparing Dubai Tram to trams in other cities around the world shows that this is a common pace for a tram. “I think that many commuters are also commuters of the Metro, and compare the pace of Dubai Tram with that of Dubai Metro. When the tram is on Sufouh Road it may be compared to the pace of the regular vehicles there, but this road is a highway where motorists are permitted to drive fast. The tram may seem slow next to these vehicles.” The RTA pointed out that the on-time arrival indicator has been satisfactory. “During the first year of operation, the Dubai Tram has achieved extremely high performance indicators where the on-time arrival indicator reached 96.4 per cent, and the compliance with trips timetables indicator recorded 93 per cent. Satisfaction rates have shot to 98 per cent. User-friendliness The tram came with many amenities, and more have been added throughout the year. From today, parking spaces to cater to commuters that link to the tram by car are provided at Palm Jumeirah, revealed Mudharreb. “At Palm Jumeirah, which is station 9 on the Dubai Tram route, there is a footbridge that connects to a car park. We have signed an agreement with Nakheel that 100 parking slots are reserved for commuters that want to make use of the tram.” A parallel cycling lane extending 9km along the tramway between Al Safouh Station and Dubai Media City Station was recently completed, encouraging commuters to connect to the tram by bike, or to enjoy the view while cycling along its tracks. Use of the tram itself has been simplified, as the screens no longer display the somewhat complicated messages describing the different routes. With the cancellation of the short route, it displays the real-time arrival details of the tram approaching, which will ride in one and the same direction. Even the check-in and –out process is becoming more of a ritual for people who were slightly misled by the fact that this does not involve any gates opening and closing. “It looks like the majority of commuters are now checking in when they get on the Tram. However, we are launching an awareness campaign next month to remind passengers that they have to check in and out on the platforms,” said Mudharreb. Tram effect The introduction of a new transport solution was much needed in the area served by the tram today. Communities like Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) and Jumeirah Lakes Towers see an ever-growing number of tourists and residents, and consequently swelling traffic volumes. “The population density of the area will rise upon occupation of buildings constructed to 60,000 persons per square kilometer, whereas the average density in the current urban areas of Dubai city is 3,000 persons per square km. Thus, the area will have 20 times the population density of urban Dubai districts,” said the RTA. “Accordingly, the number of trips generated from the area will be 64,000 trips during peak hour; which is close to the total number of trips generated from the entire Deira. “Moreover, there is a limi