RTA signs agreement with Parsons Brinckerhoff for Dubai Metro purple line

This will link Dubai International Airport with Jebel Ali International Airport, a distance of about 49 kilometers.

The project has an estimated cost of ten billion dirhams (AED 10 billion) and is in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to link the major urban projects with a developed network of various transportation systems, being followed-up by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, President of the Executive Council of Dubai.

The agreement has been signed on behalf of RTA by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority, and on behalf of Parsons Brinkerhoff International by Stuart Wallace, Managing Director of Parsons Brinckerhoff Middle East.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Khalifa Al Zafeen, Director of Engineering & Projects in the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) in Dubai, Ahmed Hashim Khoori, Vice President of Dubai Airport Development Authority and Richard Mayes, Senior Vice President Parsons Brinckerhoff International. Also from the RTA was present Abdullah Al Madani, CEO of Corporate Support Services, engineer Adnan Al Hamadi, Director of Rail Construction and engineer Abdul Redha Abu Al Hassan, Director of Rail Planning & Designing.

In the press conference held after the signing of the agreement, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer offered his thanks to HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Civil Aviation Department in Dubai, President of Emirates Airline Group, for the continued support of HH to the projects of the RTA.

He stated that the construction of the Purple Line is manifestation of the wish of the Civil Aviation Department in Dubai to provide an express means of transport that provides a direct link between Dubai International Airport and Jebel Ali Airport. The line is characterized by a limited number of stations and an average operational speed of over 100 kilometers per hour compared to the average speed of 45 km per hour on the currently being constructed Red Line.

Al Tayer hailed the fruitful cooperation between the RTA and both Civil Aviation Department in Dubai & Emirates Airlines. He stated that RTA, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Department in Dubai and Emirates Airlines, invited a number of international companies in the rail industry to submit their technical and financial bids to design the Purple Line Project that links Dubai International Airport with Jebel Ali Airport. The proposed line will pass along Al Khail Road and will serve vital key projects extending along Al Khail Road and the Al Jaddaf area.

"In view of the technical and financial assessment of the companies that took part in the bid, the international consultant Parsons Brinkerhoff has been selected to prepare the initial designs to serve the airports & passengers, design the interchanges for the Purple Line with the airports and both the Red & Green Lines, set the technical specifications of the project and specify the optimum technology for use in the metro, and to tender the project for construction and evaluate the bids" Al Tayer said.

He added that the Purple Line extends 49 km and includes 8 passenger stations three of which will include facilities for checking-in for the two airports. Passengers will be able to bring their personal effects, check-in and obtain plane boarding passes through the airlines counters in the designated three metro stations. Accordingly, passengers will be able to proceed directly to the airports.

"The average speed of the train over the Purple Line is 100 km per hour with a maximum speed between 135 km to 160 km per hour. The trip between the two airports will take about 40 minutes, including stopping time at the stations. The Consultant will commence design works this month and complete them in May 2008. RTA will put the project out to tender for construction and select a Contractor during the period from May 2008 to March 2009. The project will be constructed in 45 months starting from March 2009 and the service on the Purple Line is scheduled to start in December 2012," he commented.

"The metro is expected to consist of up to nine carriages among them carriages for luggage and belongings. Each carriage will measure around 3.2 meter in width and about 3.8 meters in height and to have a seating capacity of about 50. Separate carriages will be allocated for ladies and children,"

Al Tayer said.

The Metro on the Purple Line will be automatically operated, driverless and provide a safe service environment. It will introduce a state-of-the-art rail technology with air-conditioning in stations and metro carriages in a way compatible with the prevailing climate in Dubai urban area. All metros will be operated in accordance with an integrated metro system that paves the way for enhancing control and fine tuning of trip timings. Metro stations will be designed in an innovative and outstanding architectural style and will be fitted with the latest safety and security aspects. Parking spaces will be provided for private cars and buses in each station.

H.E. the Chairman and CEO of RTA stated the Purple Line is the third line in Dubai Metro Project following the Red and Green Lines which cost 15.5 billion dirham extending 75 km; 52 in the Red Line and 23 in the Green Line. The total number of stations in the two lines is 47 stations; 29 in the Red Line of which 4 are underground and 25 are elevated stations. The Green Line extends 23 km including 18 stations; 6 of which are underground and 12 elevated stations.

Al Tayer also said that the two lines intersect in both the Union Square and Burjuman Stations. The average speed of metro is around 40 km per hour. It consists of 5 carriages capable of accommodating 640 persons. They are divided into two classes; the first one is the Golden Class which is situated at the front of the metro and includes 19 deluxe seats, 19 seats for women and children along with spaces to accommodate prams, luggage and belongings.

It is the first time ever in the world that a golden class is allocated in a metro coach that operates within a single city, Al Tayer noted. The second class (Silver) consists of 4 carriages of 104 seats. All carriages of various classes will be fitted with seating and spaces for persons with special needs. This comes in line with the commitment of the RTA to honor the rights of the special need persons and integrate them in the community.