Dubai Railbus testing to be completed in two years as sustainable transport drive gathers pace

Live updates: World Governments Summit in Dubai

Technical studies on Dubai’s Railbus project will be completed in two years and the new network will complement existing transport infrastructure, such as the Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram, The National can reveal.

Construction costs will be far less expensive than those of the Dubai Metro, with Railbus expected to be "20 per cent to 30 per cent cheaper than comparable systems globally", Abdul Muhsen Ibrahim Kalbat, chief executive of the Roads and Transport Authority, told The National on Tuesday.

“Sustainable transportation is part of the national strategy to achieve zero emissions by 2050,” he added. “This type of system will complement our mass transit system, such as Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram, and will integrate with existing public transport users from the areas adjacent to Metro stations."

Mr Kalbat said a tiered system will be used for ticketing, with the network split into zones making it cost-effective for the customer.

“According to the research and development that the company is doing right now in co-ordination and collaboration with the RTA, we expect to get results of all studies and research within two years," he added. "Then we will be studying the feasibility of implementing this type of system within Dubai to explore the best routes and the best areas to start testing this type of system.”

Although no launch date has been announced, Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the RTA, said the next steps after the two years of technical studies “will involve identifying the optimal locations for pilot operations to assess its operational efficiency and integration with Dubai’s wider transport network”.

What do we know about Railbus?

The RTA said the capsule-like vehicles, 11.5 metres in length and 2.65m wide, have a top speed of 100kph and each can hold 40 passengers.

The vehicles will rely on solar power, with all tracks set to be covered by panels. The design, which has been optimised for urban landscapes, will be 3D-printed and the vehicles will be made from recyclable material.

“All of the related infrastructure will be developed more economically when compared to other similar systems,” Mr Kalbat said. “It will run on rails and have the flexibility of a bus, as it will be able to manoeuvre within residential areas to serve the first and last-mile transport demands in Dubai.”

On Monday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was joined by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, in reviewing the Railbus prototype with Mr Al Tayer, while visiting the RTA stand at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is joined by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, to review the Railbus project with Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the RTA. Photo: Wam

A transforming city

It is the latest in a series of recent announcements to help ease the pressure on Dubai’s road network, with plans released last June setting out to double the number of Metro and tram stations by 2040.

Dubai has 55 Metro stations – 35 on the red line and 20 on the green line – as well as 11 tram stops. This number is to be increased to 96 stations spanning 140km by 2030, according to Dubai Media Office.

Set to transform the north-east of the city, an Dh18 billion ($4.9 billion) project is under way to add a blue line to the Metro system, which will feature 14 stations and add 30km to the network, more than half of it underground.

Under plans laid out by Sheikh Hamdan, several car-free zones are to be established across the city.

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Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

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