UAE: Alstom has presented a full-size mock-up of a Metropolis metro car for the Route 2020 metro project to a delegation from Dubai Roads & Transport Authority during its visit to France.
Alstom is supplying 50 five-car trainsets for the Route 2020 project under a contract awarded last year; 15 are needed for the 15 km branch of the Red Line and 35 to increase capacity on existing routes.
Each 88 m long trainset will have capacity for 700 passengers at 4/m², in Silver, Family and Gold classes. The trains will be equipped with fully electrical braking and LED lighting.
Alstom is also responsible for trackwork, power supplies, communication, automatic fare collection and platform screen doors for the new line. It will also upgrade track, power supplies, signalling and communications on the existing section of the line.
Alstom is leader of the ExpoLink consortium, which also includes a civil works team led by Acciona and including Gülermak. Alstom’s share of the €2·6bn contract is €1·3bn.
The branch will start from Nakheel Harbour & Tower on the existing Red Line, then run on 11·8 km of viaduct with three stations. Two further stations will be on the 3·2 km underground section, leading to the terminus at the Expo 2020 site.
Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum laid the foundation stone for the branch at a ceremony in September. Trial operation is expected to start in late 2019, with passenger services due to begin on May 20 2020, five months ahead of the opening of the Expo.
