UAE: On October 13 the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, launched trial running on Dubai metro Green Line when he travelled from Dubai Healthcare City to the eastern terminus at Etisalat.
He was accompanied by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, RTA Chairman & CEO Mattar Al Tayer, senior government officials and the Dubai Metro technical and engineering team.
Tracklaying on the 23 km Green Line is now complete, and electromechnical equipment installation and station finishing works are progressing well. The Green Line is due to open in August 2011.
A further five stations on the Red Line entered service on October 15, namely Jumeirah Lake Towers, Nakheel, Sharag DG, First Gulf Bank and Business Bay. The western section from Ibn Battuta to Jebel Ali with three stations will open later.
To meet an anticipated increase in demand on the Red Line, 22 trains are now deployed during peak hours running at 6 min intervals, while 16 trains will operate during off–peak hours at 8 min intervals. Operation has been extended by 1 h on Thursday and Fridays, with trains now running until midnight.
