Dubai plans 'trackless trams' project in 8 locations across the emirate

The project is aimed at being an autonomous and eco-friendly electric transport system

Published: Sun 3 Nov 2024, 2:13 PM

Updated: Sun 3 Nov 2024, 9:02 PM

By
Web Desk

Dubai's Crown Prince directed the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to study the implementation of the 'trackless trams' project at eight locations across the emirate.

Under these directives, the RTA will study the self-driving, eco-friendly electric transport system, which will operate on virtual tracks using camera-guided painted lines on dedicated lanes.

Powered by electricity, it is eco-friendly and autonomous, with lower costs and faster construction compared to traditional trams. Each tram will have three carriages with a capacity of 300 passengers, a top speed of 70 km/h, and an operational speed of 25 to 60 km/h. A single charge allows the tram to travel up to 100 km.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

The announcement comes on the tenth anniversary of the Dubai Tram.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, thanked the RTA team for their commitment to pioneering AI-driven solutions and empowering national talent to lead this transformation.

"Dubai will continue to expand its infrastructure, driving accelerated growth and enriching the lives of its people," said the Crown Prince.

During my visit to @rta_dubai’s headquarters, I reviewed its AED16 billion Main Roads Development Plan 2024-2027, featuring 22 major projects. I also reviewed the progress of RTA’s initiatives in public and shared transportation, designed to boost service quality and efficiency… pic.twitter.com/dCX3Tj0XMh
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) November 3, 2024

The leader also reviewed RTA's Dh16-billion Main Roads Development Plan 2024-2027, featuring 22 major projects in addition to the authority's progress in public and shared transportation. These initiatives are designed to boost service quality and efficiency for more than 2.2 million daily riders. This includes new road lanes, trams and self-driving buses.

Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) service, a combination of a bus and a tram has hit the city's streets. This vehicle operates without a rail system. The innovative electric vehicle can accommodate up to 200 passengers, enhancing sustainable mobility in the city.

The electric trackless tram service, which connects Reem Island to Marina Mall, operates on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, featuring 14 designated stops in the capital.

Self-driving bus

The transport plan involves an autonomous bus equipped with the latest AI and self-driving technologies to ensure maximum safety. The bus will have a capacity of 10-20 passengers.

Expected to operate at a speed of 40 km/h, the autonomous bus is designed for first and last-mile transport, connecting main transit hubs with final destinations.

Dedicated bus and taxi lanes

A new plan by the transport authority will oversee the extension of dedicated bus and taxi lanes in 2025 and 2026.

This extension will add six routes covering 13km, bringing the total length of dedicated lanes to 20km. These lanes are projected to increase ridership by 10 per cent, improve bus arrival rates by 42 per cent, reduce bus travel time by 41 per cent, encourage public transport use, and alleviate traffic congestion.

The lanes are also designed to support Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy 2030, with expected economic benefits estimated at Dh2.3 billion over 10 years. These lanes will support the autonomous and electric-powered buses.

Commercial transport platform

A new digital service platform has been developed in partnership with the private sector to enhance commercial transport services for business clients. Called the Commercial Transport (Logisty) Platform, it manages commercial vehicle fleets, provides on-demand booking and tracking, vehicle and driver verification, and a reliable registration database.

Smart cycling tracks scanning

A smart cycling track system is also part of the development plan, which spans across 557 kilometres and supports an estimated 44 million cycling trips annually, alongside 2.3 million soft mobility trips.

The Crown Prince attended a presentation on the Smart Cycling Tracks Scanning Initiative, which uses a specially equipped vehicle to scan 120km of cycling tracks within four hours, compared to only 10km using visual assessment.

Safe driving

A new initiative alerts public bus drivers of safety breaches in real time. The 'Green Road' system will monitor 1,395 public transport buses and drivers’ behaviours, including sharp turns, speeding, sudden braking, lane changes, and unsafe acceleration.

The system has improved safety by 54 per cent and reduced risk indicators and traffic violations by 47 per cent.

ALSO READ: