New system of Dubai Metro’s upkeep invented

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Roads and Transport Authority, in collaboration with Serco, operator of Dubai Metro and Tram, has recently completed preventive maintenance works for grinding Dubai Metro rail tracks that extend about 300 km.

Dubai Metro uses highly advanced preventive maintenance system that uses a sophisticated rail grinder fitted with advanced camera and laser technologies enabling high-precision scanning of rail tracks. The technology determines the appropriate maintenance system, which ensures the smooth movement of the rolling stock and the optimal utilisation of asset lifespan.

RTA’s Rail Maintenance Department uses a preventive maintenance system customised to the design of the Dubai Metro network that takes into consideration the climatic conditions of the Emirate. By completing the Dubai Metro preventive maintenance works in December 2020, the Rail Maintenance Department also completed a full migration from the previous traditional maintenance system. It means a shift from the correctional maintenance to preventive maintenance system, which contributes to asset sustainability; a strategic objective of RTA.

The preventive maintenance system also enabled RTA’s rail maintenance team to acquire specialized experiences in the rail maintenance in a way that this team will implement similar works nationally and internationally, which will enhance RTA’s vision: ‘The world leader in seamless & sustainable mobility.’

LANE OPENED: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed Phase III of the Dedicated Bus and Taxi Lanes Project on Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street. The lane extends 4.3 km from the intersection of Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street-Al Mina Street, to a point just before the intersection of Zabeel Street, and in both directions. The dedicated lane has been marked in a distinctive red colour.

The project included the construction of pedestrian paths, air-conditioned shelters for bus and taxi riders, streetlights, roadside parking and landscaping. The lane will be opened to the public on Thursday, 21st January. In the lead-up to this date, bus drivers will be using the lanes on a trial basis, until the service is put into formal operation.

By completing Phase III, the total length of dedicated bus and taxi lanes rises to 11.6 km, spread over seven key streets, including Al Mankhool, Al Khaleej, Khalid Bin Al Waleed, Al Ghubaiba, Naif, Al Ittihad and Al Mina Streets.

“Building dedicated bus and taxi lanes is a successful global practice that encourages people to ride public transport means, rather than in private vehicles.