Doha: In an important strategic move, Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail), has commenced a preview service for the first part of the Doha Metro’s Red Line, from Al Qassar in the north to Al Wakrah in the south.
Qatar Rail has announced the operating hours from 8 am to 11 pm on weekdays. As for the frequency of the trains, there will be a train every six minutes, and the travel time between stations is three minutes. The service will stop during weekends to progress the work required to open more stations and lines.
The launch, which was originally planned for 2020, comes almost one year ahead of schedule. It is an important stage for testing the Doha Metro system with passengers, providing an opportunity to evaluate and review the performance in preparation for the full operation of the network. During this stage, Qatar Rail aims to receive feedback from passengers that will help improve its services to provide the best possible customer experience and will devote its efforts to making the necessary evaluations to meet the expectations of the public.
As part of Qatar Rail’s aim to reduce the public’s dependence on private cars, car parking areas in stations are limited. Drop off and pick up parking areas are provided in all stations, although there are some stations that have limited parking spaces such as Al Wakra and Qasr.
The preview service includes 13 out of 18 stations in the Red Line, which are: Al Qassar, DECC, QIC West Bay, Corniche, Al Bidaa, Msherireb, Al Doha Al Jadeed, Umm Ghawalina, Al Matar Al Qadeem, Oqba Ibn Nafie, Free Zone, Ras Abu Fintas, Al Wakra.
Abdulla Saif Al Sulaiti, Chief of Service Delivery at Qatar Rail, said: “Many achievements have been made ahead of schedule, and today we stand at a turning point as the project shifts from the development stage to the operational stage. The preview service is a major opportunity to measure the efficiency of the network and the services we provide. The outputs of the preview service are essential for us, and we will build on them as we prepare for the full opening of the network by 2020.”
In terms of service and ticket pricing, Qatar Rail has conducted comprehensive and integrated pricing studies and has introduced several categories to make tickets accessible to everybody, and available through multiple sales channels. There are several options available for travel tickets, including Limited Use, Gold Class card, and a Standard card.
A single journey will cost QR 2 for Standard card holders (including Family Class), while a day pass will cost QR 6. A single journey will cost QR 10 for Gold Club members, while a day pass will cost QR 30. Customers can top up their reusable cards with Travel Credit, which can be purchased at ticket vending machines in all Doha Metro stations.
The Gold Class card can be purchased from Gold Club offices, available in all Doha Metro stations. The Limited Use cards are temporary tickets that can be purchased from the tickets vending machines in stations. Their prices vary depending on trips and classes for either a single journey or a day pass. Standard cards can be purchased from licensed retailers including Al Meera, Lulu Hypermarket, Carrefour Hypermarket, and Jumbo Electronics. Qatar Rail has already started selling tickets through Al Meera branches, and will soon begin selling them in the other licensed retailers.
For his part, Ajlan Eid Al Enazi, Chief of Strategies and Business Development at Qatar Rail, said: “Doha Metro is considered one of the most important pillars of Qatar’s new integrated transport system. We invite everyone to experience the metro during this phase and to share with us their experience so that we can review the key factors that may affect our services in the future. We will develop solutions to address those factors to enhance the experience of passengers.”
In line with its continuous efforts to provide a comprehensive travel experience, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Qatar Rail has made preparations to integrate Doha Metro with other modes of transport, including feeder buses services that will take passengers to and from stations. It has also signed several partnerships with other service providers to transport passengers at a low cost.
For example, Metro Link – a complimentary shuttle bus service to and from the metro stations and their surrounding areas – has been launched to support Doha Metro’s preview service. Information about the service and bus stops can be accessed through the Qatar Rail mobile application. In addition, Karwa taxi service is providing fixed tariffs for Doha Metro passengers. Other transportation solutions will be added, and reduced prices for metro passengers will be offered with other transport service providers, in the near future.
In a proactive step, Qatar Rail launched a special mobile application for metro services ahead of the preview service to encourage individuals to register, create an account, and link their Travel Cards. They can also use the application’s journey planner to manage their trips and view the network map and current operational stations. Passengers can also receive instant updates on the status of the service, via the website, digital screens at stations, and on trains.
Doha Metro is one of the fastest driverless trains in the world and will be the fastest in the region; able to reach 100 km per hour. In total, 110 trains – consisting of three cars, one of which will be for Gold and Family Class and two for Standard class – will be delivered to Doha Metro: Gold will have 16 seats, family 26 seats, and standard 88 seats.
Designed and built to world-class standards of modernity and innovation, they remain deeply rooted in the country’s history and community. Their dynamic shape represents the perfect symbol of intelligence and speed. The front end of the vehicle and its lines define a shape that is powerful yet elegant, while the windows are inspired by the slender eyes of local wildlife. The design is custom made for the Doha Metro project and the interior is inspired by the progressive architecture present in Doha skyline, once again combining traditional and modern elements.
Qatar Rail has announced the readiness of the operational Red Line stations to welcome passengers, and flags with Doha Metro logo to mark open stations. The Red Line stations encompass a special architectural identity – that of ‘vaulted spaces’; a concept that reflects on the heritage of the region by introducing open spaces that mimic traditional Bedouin tents. The design also uses ornamentations that shed light on the aesthetic elements and foundations of dynamic lighting and ventilation systems. The station mock-up brings to life the tribute that the Doha Metro station designs pay to Qatari heritage through the use of traditional elements of Islamic and local art and ‘pearl-effect’ interiors. The colours of the Red Line stations interiors reflect the identity of the Red Line, also known as the coastal Line, as it runs along the coastal side of Doha.
The stations are air-conditioned indoor stations. Each station contains a customer service centre, Gold Club office, a police booth, separate male and female prayer areas and restrooms that cater for people with disabilities. The stations also include monitors to display journey information and train services, as well as signage to guide the visitors. All stations are equipped with security cameras and a first aid room to preserve the security and safety of all passengers.