September 06, 2008

Revised tenders submitted to RTA for tram project in Dubai

Emirates Business 24/7 reported that companies bidding for the first phase of the Al Sufouh tram system in Dubai have submitted revised price structures to the Roads & Transport Authority in Dubai. As per report, the changes follow a decision to move the scheme's depot underground, allowing the developer to create real estate properties on the street level following the completion of the project.

It may be noted that commercial prices for the estimated AED 2 billion Al Sufouh tram system were opened in January 2008 and the lowest bidder was France's Alstom along with Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construct, followed by Germany's Siemens with Australia's Gulf Leighton and the local Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises.

The 15 kilometer long tram lines will be connected to the Dubai Metro Red Line at three points and will run along Al Sufouh Road. The network will cover a route from Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residences via Dubai Media City and Knowledge Village to Madinat Jumeirah, Mall of the Emirates and Burj Al Arab. Capacity of the tram line will be 5,200 passengers per hour in each direction.

Some 19 stations, including three interchange stations with the Red Line of the Dubai Metro at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lake Towers, are being planned. The tram network will also eventually connect to the Jumeirah Palm Mono Rail. The first phase of the system will start operating with the Dubai Metro system in September 2009. Construction work on the project was originally scheduled to start in January 2008.

UK based MVA Consultancy, also involved with the Dubai Metro project, recommended the tram service as part of a transport study for the Al Sufouh area. More than half a million people are expected to benefit once it is up and running. The RTA had in June 2007 said it would spend at least AED 75 billion over the next 5 years building Dubai's infrastructure.