Dubai: Fifty new Dubai Metro trains with more seating and improvements have arrived, including the 15 for serving the Expo 2020 route, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Saturday.
Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, RTA’s director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors, said the remaining 35 trains are meant to improve the level of service of the existing Dubai Metro. “RTA has introduced extensive improvements to the interior design of the new trains to make them more spacious and comfortable for riders. The last carriage is designated for women and children, and part of the first carriage remained as Gold Cabin. The rest are Silver Cabins,” added Al Tayer.
More seating, added features
Seats in the new trains are transversal in the Gold Cabin and longitudinal in both the Silver and the Women and Children Cabins. This redistribution of seats enables the increase of each metro train capacity from 643 riders to 696 riders. Improvements include new designs for grab handles and lighting, and the use of new digital advertisement displays. Illuminated dynamic line map will be used to indicate the metro route and stations, and the lighting will be using LED power-saving technology. In addition, the design of the luggage compartment has been revamped to make the space usable by standing commuters.
The new carriages are configured to suit the use of people of determination and the smooth entry and exit of riders. Seats were redistributed at the two sides of the train and the gangway connecting between carriages has been widened. The exterior shape of the new Dubai Metro trains was left unchanged to maintain the design identity of the Dubai Metro and its familiar colours to the public, said Al Tayer.
Tests on Route 2020
The new trains are deployed at the Dubai Metro Depots at Al Rashidiya and Jebel Ali. RTA is currently conducting operational tests of trains on Route 2020 of the Dubai Metro Red Line. Tests consist of four phases. Phase 1 is a Static Test, where a motionless metro carriage is placed on the track for carrying out a series of tests including communication systems, automated train control systems, electrical power supply system, air-conditioning, on-board electronic equipment, lighting systems and the full integration and interface between various subsystems and components.
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Phase 2 is the ‘Dynamic Tests’, which covers a series of on-board tests on a train in motion. Tests on the rolling stock cover electrical motors, brake systems, operational performance tests during normal and emergency cases, power systems, electromagnetic compatibility, automated train control systems, and communications systems.
Phase 3 relates to ‘Operational Tests’ to verify the system’s reliability and stability. These tests are key phases of the project and start after the completion of tests and the integration of the entire systems. During this phase, the system will be running continuously in a fashion similar to the regular operation, but without passengers, to achieve the targeted operational performance indicator.
Phase 4 constitutes ‘Operational Trials’ conducted by the metro operator. It aims at verifying the readiness of the operator before the start of the actual operation of the service. It involves about 14 days of operation without riders to test the operation of the metro system under all scenarios including normal, degraded and emergency modes.