The entire transit network will be 131 km long when complete, including an 18-kilometre (11 mi) partially underground metro line, two light rail lines and bus rapid transit.[Note 1] Phase 1 of the network (60 kilometres (37 mi)) should be completed by 2020, with a further (70 kilometres (43 mi)) in later phases. It is expected to cost Dh7 billion.
The system will be composed of four basic lines:[1]
Line 18 kilometres (11 mi) heavy railrapid transit of which 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) will be underground
Line 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) light rail with 24 stops
Line 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) light rail with 21 stops
The metro will mainly connect the proposed Central Business District with Sowwah Island, Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Masdar City, Capital City District, Emerald Gateway, Zayed Sports City and ADNEC.
Construction[]
Firms interested in bidding for contracts on phase 1 of the project were due to submit statements of intent to the government by mid June 2013.
The Department of Transport has planned phase 1 for construction in three contracts:[2]
civil works for the above-ground structures (design and build contracts.
underground construction work (design and build contracts.
the rail system, the rolling stock and the operation and maintenance for the line; (design, build, operate and maintain contracts.
Contracts are due to be awarded in 2015.[1] Under the original plan, the first phase was due to be complete by 2015, but is now scheduled to be operational no sooner than 2018–2019.[3]
From October 2016, the project halted. In August 2018, the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport invited bids for consultancy services for the emirate's metro and light rail projects.[4]
Notes[]
^Some recent online discussions mention a monorail, but it does NOT seem to part of the most recent plan. There was a monorail under discussion in 2006. See: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-05-04. Retrieved 2013-06-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
