DUBAI // More riders on the tram, quicker service and periodic reviews to ease traffic flow are expected as the tram turns a year old on Wednesday.
Eleven trams that trundle along an 11km route with 11 stations around the Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence and Al Sufouh areas have attracted 3.7 million passengers.
Shutting the Marina loop service and reducing headway from 12 to eight minutes since October have boosted daily ridership by 15 per cent to about 15,000 passengers per day.
This came after Dubai Roads and Transport Authority studies showed that passengers, mainly tourists, on the loop service did not exceed 6 per cent of total passengers.
“People complain the tram is really slow, but once they closed the roundabout loop, the trains are frequent,” said Anees Rahman, an insurance manager and frequent tram and metro user.
“You will still reach your destination faster in a cab, but when I want to reach clients in Media City, Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Marina, the tram-metro connectivity is unbeatable.”
Opinion about the tram’s effectiveness remains divided. Motorists who wait for minutes at traffic signals in the Marina and JBR areas have never been fans.
“I still don’t see the point of this in an area where people are rushing home or to work. It just slows things down,” said Chris Robins, a safety engineer who has lived in the Marina for eight years.
“But when my relatives come to Dubai, they like to hop on for a bit. It’s not for everyone, though.”
For now, the RTA says it has delivered in terms of operational efficiency, punctuality, safety and linking public transport systems.
“The tram supports the economy of the emirate and contributes to reducing carbon emissions, conserving the environment and improving the experience of residents,” said Mattar Al Tayer, RTA director general.
“The Dubai tram is primarily aimed at improving mobility inside Dubai and in areas of tourist and economic importance.”
The service is popular among students and mothers ferrying children to nearby nurseries.
“My parents allow me to take the tram instead of dropping me to school,” said Jassim Al Hatti, 12, a student of Dubai National School in Al Barsha. “My family feels the tram is safe and also the metro, so I’m allowed to travel alone, so it’s fun.”
Safety remains the priority for transport authorities who will review each junction on the tram route over the next few months to pinpoint changes required.
More than 1,000 cameras monitor movement inside the tram, inside and outside the stations with police patrolling to ensure motorists do not drive through red lights or flout U-turn and left turn restrictions.
Dubai Police radars monitor offences with fines ranging from Dh2,000 for jumping a red light to Dh30,000 for causing a fatality and crashing into a tram.
As part of safety procedures, tram drivers are asked to list medications they are taking and undergo breathalyser tests.
“There are opportunities for improvement around junctions and a separate safety study will decide on specific changes to reduce violations,” said Mohammed Al Mudharreb, director of rail operations. “Police presence, continuous education of motorists and strict violations list is important to maintain safety.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
