RTA water bus ferries 39k passengers in 11k trips in August

Hussain Ali Al Saffar, the Director of Operation and Maintenance Dep't at RTA Marine Agency, stated:

"August 2009 statistics show an increase of 9,739 passengers compared to the same statistics compile in August 2008; which amounts to a 32% rise in the number of commuters."

Commenting on the breakdown of the improved performance indicator of the water bus, Al Saffar said that the number of passengers served in August this year through B1 Line (Bur Dubai station - Al Sabkha Station) clocked 5,421 passengers in August this year, whereas it was 2,747 passengers in August last year. The monthly average of passenger traffic through B1 Line over the period from the beginning of January to the end of August this year was 5,263 passengers, compared to 3,510 passengers during the same period last year. The indicator also reflects a healthy growth rate of 97% in the number of passengers; which corresponds to a 54% growth rate in the monthly average of last year, and a 3% increase in the total number of passengers compared to the general average of passenger traffic this year.

He continued, "The water bus performance indicator on B2 Line (Dubai Old Souk station - Bani Yas station) shows that 12,838 passengers have been served during this month compared to 10,531 passengers in the same month last year. The monthly average during the period from the beginning of January to the end of August this year is 14,737 passengers, compared to 12,547 passengers during the same period last year. This indicates a growth of 22% in the monthly average during the same period last year."

"The performance indicator of B3 Line (Seef station - Bani Yas Station - Sabkha station) shows that the number of passengers ferried during the month of August this year reached 18,772 passengers whereas the number reported in August last year reached 16,172 passengers. The monthly average during the period from the beginning of January to the end of August this year is 18,772 passengers, compared to 16,172 passengers during the same period last year. This indicates a 16% growth rate in the number of passengers served in August this year compared to the numbers reported in August last year, and a 9% increase in the monthly average of passengers compared to the monthly average last year," he said.

"This rising trend in the water bus performance indicators and the healthy growth rates made has impacted the performance of B4 Line (Bur Dubai station - Seef station - Dubai Creek station) in August 2009. In particular 2,750 passengers have been served compared to 592 passengers served during the same period this year. The monthly average of passenger traffic during the period from the beginning of January to the end of August this year is 2,762 passengers, compared to 816 passengers during the same period last year. The indicator of B4 Line also reveals a 365% growth rate in the number of passengers during the month of August this year compare to the numbers reported in August last year, along with a 237% increase in the monthly average this year compared to the statistics of the same period last year," Al Saffar concluded.