RTA provides Water Bus service for DSF crowd

Ahmed Mohammed Al Hamadi, Director of Operation & Performance Dep't at RTA Marine Agency, stated that this service started on 24 January and will continue through 24 February 2008 through Line B4 shuttling between Bani Yas Station and Al Seef Station.

The service will start at 06.00 am and end at 11.00 pm and trip time is 3 minutes, with 10 minutes headway. The fare is Dh4 per trip per passenger and payment could be made either through cash or a prepaid card offering 10% discount.

"Original Service hours in Line B4 starts at 06.00 am and ends at 04.00 pm, but the service hours have now been expanded from 10 to 17 hours so as to support the community by providing marine transport service for DSF events. This will also contribute to easing congestion on Bani Yas and Al Seef Road and ease the pressure on crossings at those areas. It is envisaged the Water Bus will lift through line B4 more than 73 thousand passengers in 2040 trips during the events period at a rate of 2448 passengers per day in 68 trips, and this in turn will enhance the role of mass transit in the emirate" said Al Hamadi.

He said that this objective will be met through providing parking space at Bur Dubai so that the public could use these parking spaces near Al Shindaga Station, and from there they can board the Water Bus to Al Seef Station and attend the events staged in that area. There is a Customer Service Office at Al Seef Station and Bani Yas Station as well to provide a host of services to clients such as selling prepaid cards during the service period covering 18 hours per day from 06.00 am to 11.00 pm.

Al Hamadi went on to say that the front seats have been dedicated to ladies and children and the Water Bus is fitted with life jackets for kids covering 15% of passengers. He added that more details about the Water Bus, diverse benefits, working hours, fare and other information are available at the website of the RTA.

He added that the Water Bus project is a further stream of marine transport across Dubai Creek commuting passengers in round trips between the stations of Al Sabkha, Bur Dubai, Bani Yas, Dubai Old Souk, Al Seef and Al Shindaga, at 10 minutes headway in a service that starts at 06.00 am and ends at 11.00 pm. The Water Bus lines encompass various service-providing bodies at both banks of Dubai Creek, Al Seef Station is situated near the Consulates Complex, Al Sabkha Station is near Deira Souk Office, and there are various heritage souks.

Al Hamadi pointed out that in mid July 2007 RTA launched the Water Bus project; which is a blend of the traditional shape of abra and modern hi tech. It is the first marine mass transit service in the Middle East that started with four lines and now jumped to six lines linking the two banks of Dubai Creek, operating at 10 minutes headway; providing another addition to mass transit systems in the emirate of Dubai. It has a state-of-the-art air-conditioning system considered one of the best in use in Water Buses, thus providing a convenient atmosphere to commuters particularly during summer; where temperature shoots very high.

Al Hamadi concluded his statement by saying that the Strategic Plan of Marine Transport extends up to 2020 and takes into consideration the overall outlook, and population growth in the emirate of Dubai so as to ensure containment of congested spots in the emirate and provide seamless traffic flow in all land & marine routes.