Al Tayer watches test run of al-Sufouh Tram in France

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has recently watched the technical test run of Al Sufouh Tram conducted on a 700 km-long test track in the facilities of Alstom Company in France. During the trial run, which was conducted at various speeds, the tests carried out covered the safety system, electric propulsion system of the tram coaches, braking system, sudden stop during emergency cases, ground power feed of the tram track, overhead power feed in the Depot, and doors operation mechanism. In attendance among others were Adnan Al Hammadi, CEO of Rail Agency; Abdul Rida Abu Al Hassan, Director of Rail Planning '&' Development Projects; Dr. Khalid Hamdi; Projects Advisor of the Chairman of the Board '&' Executive Director; Dr. Kamal Adeer, Systems Manager at the Rail Agency; Mohammed Amiri, Manager of Rail Coaches Maintenance; Ali Lootah, Senior Engineer; and a host of executives from Alstom. "This test run is a milestone in the implementation of Al Sufouh Tramway Project; which is being planned, designed and constructed in conformity with the directives by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, calling for the provision of a sophisticated transit system to serve Jumeirah Beach Residence, Marina and Al Safouh neighborhoods," said Al Tayer. "The technical test run is intended to assess '&' verify the readiness of the tram and the functionality as well as the performance of all control systems at all conditions," he said, adding that these test runs would continue till the tram is finally shipped. The validation of test results, he continued, will cover a variety of aspects including the air-conditioning system, power feed '&' braking system, coupling of tram coaches, disconnection of power supply, rail surveillance '&' control system as well as the operational tests of the tram under normal and emergency conditions. Al Tayer confirmed that the test was successful in every respect as the tram motion was smooth, and free from vibrations, noises or disturbance as it was fed by a ground power cable system stretching throughout the track. "Al Sufouh Tram system is considered the first of its kind outside Europe fed by ground power cables, with no catenary cables involved. Once the trams start arriving in Dubai next December, the RTA will commission other trial tests at the track site and these tests will roll on till the official launch of the tram service in November 2014," remarked Al Tayer who was elated for the amount of work done culminating in the completion of the tram test. Al Tayer said: "Al Sufouh Tramway extends 14.6 km alongside Al Sufouh Road, and the initial Phase of the project envisages the construction of a 10.6 km-long track starting from the Dubai Marina and stretching up to the Tram Depot near the Dubai Police Academy. The Tram network comprises 17 passenger stations, 11 of which are covered under Phase I and spread across activity and population density areas along the tramway. He added that the fleet comprises 11 trams in the initial phase, and 14 trams will be added in Phase II such that the total number of operating trams will be 25 trams. The tram is expected to lift about 27,000 riders per day at the start of operations in 2014, and the ridership is bound to pick up to hit 66,000 riders per day by 2020. "Each tram measures 44 meters in length and has a capacity to accommodate about 300 riders. The Tram has a First Class (Gold Suite) and one cabin designated for ladies '&' children as well as a Silver Class cabin. The tram's carriages '&' stations will have deluxe interior finishing, and feature state-of-the-art technologies in the transmission and display of entertainment materials. In the stations, the passenger lounge will span 44 metres and is set to be equipped with Automatic Fare Collections systems", Al Tayer said. He noted that the tram track basically extends at-grade level along Al Sufouh Road but rises in an elevated section when passing across certain parts of the Dubai Marina for reasons dictated by urban structures of the locality. It links up with the Metro system at three stations along Sheikh Zayed Road via footbridges to ease the transit and transfer of passengers between the two modes. Al Sufouh Tram will also be linked with the Monorail of The Palm Jumeirah at the entrance of the Palm from Al Sufouh Road to facilitate passenger movement between districts served by both modes. "Al Sufouh Tram is considered the world's first tramway project powered by a ground-based electric supply system extending along the track, thus obviating the need for catenary cables. It is also the world's first tramway that uses Platform Screen Doors in passenger stations fully aligned with the tram's doors opening and shutting mechanism, providing maximum convenience, safety and security for passengers, and at the same time protecting the quality of the air-conditioning in the interior of both stations and carriages from external climatic conditions," said Al Tayer.