Dubai Metro Red Line to partially close at weekends

The closure will last 10 weeks and is part of the RTA's plan to extend the Metro Red Line to the World Expo site

DUBAI , UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Ð Sep 3 , 2014 : People traveling in Dubai Metro in Dubai. ( Pawan Singh / The National ) For News. Story by Preeti & Martin

The Dubai Metro Red Line will partially close services over the weekend for the next 10 weeks for work related to Route 2020 project.

The closure is part of the Roads and Transport Authority’s plan to extend the Red Line to the site of the World Expo in Dubai South.

The Metro Red Line will be closed between Jumeirah Lakes Towers Station and Ibn Battuta Station every Friday and Saturday from July 28 to October 14.

A free shuttle bus service will operate between the two stations, said Mohammed Al Mudharreb, director of rail operation, RTA’s Rail Agency.

“Metro commuters heading towards the UAE Exchange station need to get off at JLT station, take a free bus ride to Ibn Battuta station and then continue their journey by metro in the direction of the UAE Exchange station.

"Metro riders travelling in the direction of Al Rashidiya station need to get off the metro at Ibn Battuta station, take free bus rides to JLT Metro Station and then continue their journey on the metro in the direction of Al Rashidiya station,” he said.

Arij Sebita, 19, an architecture student who uses the metro daily to commute between JLT and the Dubai International Financial Centre said the closure will not affect her.

“It will not be a major problem now because this work is happening over the weekend and the summer when I don’t have university to attend,” she said.

“Even when college starts in September, it is not a worry for me because the stations will be shut only over the weekend. But it will be an inconvenience for people who travel on Friday and Saturday.”

Ms Sebita was curious about the air taxi service planned by the RTA. The transport authority had said it would start trials later this year for an autonomous air taxi that could ferry two passengers as part of its smart mobility strategy.

“The metro will be good to take people directly to the expo because it will be cheaper to travel. But I have heard about the air taxis that will start. This will be good during the expo for people who can afford it," she said.

Other residents said the weekend closure of the Red Line would be an inconvenience.

Deepika, a maid who works in the Gardens area, uses the metro to travel to Oud Metha Road to meet friends.

“We usually walk to the metro station but in the heat it will be difficult to walk further. We will have to check how quickly the buses arrive or we may not go out on Friday,” she said

The alternative public transport route was planned to cope with heavy commuter movement over the weekend following field studies conducted by the RTA.

Trains will switch rail tracks and return at JLT and Ibn Battuta metro stations after the automatic operation system is upgraded, Mr Al Mudharreb said.