Approximately 2 km of the underground sections were excavated using a tunnel boring machine, and a 1 km section that branches from the current Red Line in Nakheel Harbour and the tower station has been excavated using a false tunnel.
The route has seven stations (five elevated and two underground) with LEED Gold certification, including three interchange stations and two underground stations. The stations connect certain major destinations such as Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates and The Dubai Investment Park.
The project includes the creation of an iconic station at the EXPO 2020 site and an interchange station on the Red Line at Nakheel Harbour. The main station of the Expo has been designed to represent the wings of an aircraft. The exquisite exterior structure of the Expo station, made up of sweeping curves, makes it stand out among the other stations being built along Route 2020.
ACCIONA is the majority partner in the project design and construction joint venture, and in the delivery of the ExpoLink project consortium, and shares responsibility for leading the project management group and completing the project design and construction. The contract also includes operation of the Metro. For this purpose, ACCIONA and Gülemark have partnered with Alstom to head the operation.
Alstom will provide and integrate the entire metro system that includes 50 metro trains, power supply, communication, automatic tariff control, roadworks, platform doors and a three-year guarantee throughout the system. In addition, it will improve the existing metro line by enhancing the power supply, communication systems and signalling on the track. The trains, capable of carrying up to 700 passengers each, will be 88 metres long and each vehicle will consist of five carriages.
In order to be environmentally friendly, the train is equipped with a complete electric braking system, LED lighting and other innovations to reduce energy consumption.
The project also includes a train shed and a stabilisation area, and integrates a new railway system for automated control of Thales driverless trains and other new and old metro systems (such as trains, power supplies, communication systems, automatic tariff control systems, trackworks and platform screen doors).
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Location: Dubai, Arab Emirates.
- Contract type: Design and construction .
- Infraestructure:
- 15 km long metro line.
- 3,5 km tunnel.
- 7 stations:
- An interchange station on the Red Line at Nakheel Harbour.
- Five elevated stations.
- Two underground stations.
- Train sheds.
- Iconic station at the Expo 2020 site.
- Year of project completion: 2020