Dubai Metro sees 88m riders in H1 2015

Around 88 million users rode the Dubai Metro in the first half of 2015, up 8.3 per cent from 81.4 million riders during the same period last year, the Roads and Transport Authority revealed.

The red line saw 55.7 million travellers in H1 2015 while the green line registered 32.4m million riders.

The Deira City Centre station saw the most number of riders on the red line with 3.64 million users followed by Al Rigga station and Al Ittihad station which received 3.61 million and 3.5 million riders respectively.

Meanwhile Al Fahdi station was the busiest in terms of user traffic on the green line as it handled 3.65 million riders in H1 2015. Baniyas and Al Ghubaiba stations were the other two busiest stations on the line, RTA noted.

The recently opened Dubai Tram too saw around 1.8 million passengers in H1 2015.

“The rising numbers of metro and tram riders during the first half of this year is a clear indicators that these two transit modes have commanded the attention of the residents and visitors who made them their primary mobility means within the emirate of Dubai,” said RTA’s director of rail operation Mohammed Al Mudharreb.

“These modes have become so attractive, thanks to the smooth, enjoyable and secure rides on these modes to various commercial or residential destinations in the emirate.”

Dubai Metro, which started operations in 2009, has seen a steady growth in users. Last year, nearly 164.3 million riders used the Dubai Metro, up from 137.7 million in 2013.

The launch of the metro has also helped the emirate increase the number of people using public transport to commute.

According to figures revealed by the RTA, usage of public transport in Dubai grew from six per cent in 2006 to 14 per cent in 2014. Authorities are further aiming to increase that figure to 30 per cent by 2030.

Anticipating massive growth and to provide better connectivity ahead of Expo 2020, the RTA has announced plans to expand the metro’s red line.

The extension, dubbed Masar 2020 project, will add 15 kilometres in length and seven stations to the line. Out of this, 11km of the line will run on an elevated platform while the remaining four kilometres will be constructed underground.

Media reports have also quoted senior officials as saying that the RTA is looking revive three more lines-purple, blue and gold- that were shelved due to the financial crisis. These lines are expected to improve connections to Al Maktoum International Airport at DWC and the Expo 2020 site.

However, the RTA has yet to provide an official confirmation on such reports.