The Alstom-led consortium Expolink, also composed of ACCIONA and Gulermak, has signed a contract with Dubai's RTA (Roads & Transport Authority) to design and build the extension of Dubai’s Red metro line and upgrade the system of the existing line. The total value of the project, also called Route 2020, is $2.8 billion. Alstom’s share represents half [1] and the civil works, led by ACCIONA including Gulermark, represent the other half. The extended line, which will connect the city to the Expo 2020 site, is expected to start commercial service in 2020 for the World Expo [2].

The project involves the construction of a 3.1-mile-long line — of which 7.3 miles of elevated metro line and 1.9 miles underground metro line — branching off the existing red line at the Nakheel Harbour & Tower station. The metro extension will have seven stations, including an interchange at Nakheel Harbour and an iconic metro station at the World Expo site. The highly-complex project will include a 1.9-mile tunnel perforated by a tunnel-boring machine, .7 miles of open-cut route and 7.3 miles of elevated viaduct metro line.

Alstom will provide and integrate the whole metro system including 50 Metropolis trainsets, power supply, communication, automatic fare control, track works, platform screen doors and a three-year warranty on the whole system. Additionally, Alstom will enhance the existing metro line by upgrading power supply, signalling systems, miscellaneous communication and track works.

The Metropolis trainsets for Dubai are 288 feet long and composed of five cars per trainset. They will be able to carry up to 700 passengers each [3]. The train offers an excellent level of passenger experience, thanks to wide gangways, large doors and windows, three specific areas for Silver, Family and Gold Classes. Eco-friendly, the train is equipped with a full electrical braking system, LED lighting and other innovations to reduce energy consumption.

Alstom, a long-standing partner of Dubai city’s rail transport development, delivered the Dubai tramway, the first fully integrated tramway system in the Middle East and 100% catenary-free, which opened in November 2014. Alstom is also in charge of the maintenance of the Dubai Tram system for a period of 13 years. 

[1] Booked in Q2 of fiscal year 2016/17

[2] The extension is part of RTA’s Route 2020 project, launched in response to an expected increase in ridership and the necessity to link the metro to the World Expo site

[3] 4 passengers per m²