Dubai Metro will be extended by an enormous 421 km by 2030, according to an announcement from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
When Dubai’s first Metro line was inaugurated in 2009, it served 10 stations along the Red Line only. Today Dubai Metro serves two lines and 49 stations. Dubai’s rail network will be 421 km long and have 197 stations by 2030.
New Metro lines
There is little reason to believe that Dubai Metro will continue to run on two Metro lines. Talks of new Metro lines have been in the air for quite some time, and although these plans are subject to change, a draft outline has been presented.
Four additional Metro lines are likely to be added to the Dubai Metro network: a Purple Line, Blue Line,Gold Line and Pink Line.
The government body is progressing with its strategic plan to upgrade public transport in the emirate by increasing the share of public transport trips to 20% by 2020 and 30% by 2030, said Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Chairman, quoted in Gulf News. “In accordance with the Master Plan of the rail network in Dubai, the total length of railways will extend to 110km by 2020, 200km by 2025 and double to 421km by 2030,” he said. “RTA is also improving and expanding the public transport routes to serve new communities.”
As it seems, the Purple line would form a vital route through the emirate running from north to south, and connecting to all other possible Metro lines. The plan is that it would run from International Airport, Dubai (DXB) airport to “new” Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), and connect to the Expo site too.
Running parallel to the Purple Line would be the Blue Line. Located deeper into Dubailand, it would run parallel to Dubai Bypass Road, whereas the Purple Line would accompany Emirates Road. This line would run further north than any other line, perhaps reaching Al Khawaneej.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority said the Blue Line would connect five principal urban regions of Dubai – Bur Dubai/Deira, Downtown/Business Bay, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Marina/JBR and Expo City Dubai.
The Gold Line and Pink Line would form routes from west to east, from as far as the Blue Line to the Red Line, connecting the two lines at several locations.
While the Pink Line seems to run from Al Sufouh, connecting to Dubai tram in the direction of City of Arabia, the Gold Line seems to start somewhere in the Dubai Marina area, head in the direction of Arabian Ranches, move up north to lead back all the way to Deira area.
As the plan goes, all Metro lines would come together at Meydan, where also Etihad Rail is likely to see a station.
The Purple and Gold Line are set to be completed by 2025, while the Blue Line and Pink Line are expected to be realised by 2030.
Will the stations be any different?
The design of the stations will be largely in keeping with the current Metro routes, but the Blue Line will feature two noteworthy stations. The RTA said Dubai Creek Harbour would have an “iconic station” with a “distinctive architectural design” that will complement the surrounding modern residential and commercial towers.
The station will be designed by global architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, which designed Burj Khalifa, the Denver Union Station in Colorado and the Willis Tower in Chicago.
The other notable Metro station will be the underground site at International City, which will be 44,000 square metres – the largest underground interchange station in the network.
