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.
