Dubai Trolley beckons tourists

Looking for a leisure trip around Downtown Dubai? Dubai Trolley beckons you.

The world's first hydrogen-powered, zero-emission street trolley tram opened for public service earlier this week.

Travelling a distance of a kilometre in the first phase, Dubai Trolley rolls along Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard, offering tourists and residents easy access to Dubai Mall, Souq Al Bahar and several iconic hotels.

A convenient and user-friendly ‘hop-on hop-off' transit system, the all-new Dubai Trolley will add value to Downtown Dubai residents and visitors by offering them an attractive commuting service at the iconic locality.

"Dubai Trolley is another innovative addition to Downtown Dubai that also redefines the concept of urban mobility. By integrating the unmatched aesthetics of a trolley tram with a state-of-the-art locomotive system, Emaar is presenting a sustainable transport mode for visitors and residents in Downtown Dubai,” said Ahmad Al Matroushi, Managing Director of Emaar Properties.

Operational from 4pm to midnight on weekdays and from 3pm to 11pm on weekends, the driver operated trolley tram can carry 50 passengers and runs at a leisurely speed of 10km/h. However, it can go up to a speed of 80km/h if required.

First of its kind in the region, the new transport service will redefine smart urban mobility for short journeys and could pave the way for more such systems in other parts of the city.

"Dubai Trolley is a smart urban mobility service that further builds on the trolley tram systems that are in use in several cities across the US and Europe. While they were a game-changer in public transport when first invented in the 1880s by introducing a new concept to urban mobility, they are now largely used as tourist attractions,” said Al Matroushi, speaking to Gulf News in an earlier interview.

The double-decker trams have the provision of open-deck and air-conditioned seating. The trams are elegantly designed to complement the Arabesque architectural features of Downtown Dubai.

"In a polished design, they are resplendent in bright red with aesthetic gold pinstripes and green trim colours. During winter, the glass window panels of the trolley tram will be removed for the added comfort of the passengers,” said Al Matroushi.

The network is currently served by three stations along with a Trolley Terminus near Old Town Island that also serves food and beverages.

When fully operational, Dubai Trolley will eventually span 7km across the entire breadth of Downtown Dubai.
Source: Gulf News