QATAR: The first four trains for the Doha metro arrived at Hamad Port on August 19, following a 21-day journey from the Port of Kobe in Japan. Their arrival is two months ahead of schedule, and they will be transferred to the Al Wakra Depot shortly.
Kinki Sharyo is building 75 trainsets at its factory in Osaka as part of the metro’s railway systems consortium which is led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Qatar Rail awarded the rolling stock and railway systems contract for Phase 1 of the metro in February 2015.
Each of the driverless trainsets, branded Al Faras, consists of two standard class cars and one car with gold and family class sections. There are 16 seats in gold class, 26 in family class and 88 in standard class. The trains have a maximum speed of 100 km/h.
Qatar Rail reports that work on Phase 1 is 62% complete, and civil works are due to be finished by the end of the year. Operations on Phase 1 are due to begin in 2020.
