Dubai Metro ridership hits 40m in first quarter

Dubai Metro The Roads and Transport Authority RTA announced that the Dubai Metro, comprising the Red and Green Lines, has posted high ridership during the first quarter of this year clocking 40,655,978 passengers, which compares well with the ridership recorded for the same period last year amounting to 33,341,095 riders.
Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, Acting CEO of RTA Rail Agency, said: "The number of the metro riders during the first three months of this year constitute a solid indicator that the Dubai Metro has become one of the prime transit means commanding the attention of the Dubai residents, visitors and tourists, offering smooth mobility and access to key parts of the city in a way that measures up to the needs and expectations of users.
"This year has witnessed a remarkable growth in the number of metro riders compared to the previous year; which has always been the core of our plans tailored to delivering a whole host of initiatives and service improvements capable of enticing all community members to use the metro as a primary transit means characterized by security, luxury and safety. The directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform the metro stations into galleries radiating the stylish as well as the heritage-inspired features of Dubai Emirate, is bound to have a robust contribution to uplifting the footfall of the metro stations rendering them a venue for visual pleasure and peace of mind,” added Al Ali.
Elaborating the breakdown of the metro ridership per line and station, Al Ali said: "The number of Red Line trips made during the first quarter of the current year has reached 30,400 compared to 26,359 trips made during the same period last year. The number of the Green Line trips topped 23,876 compared to 7,841 trips made during the same period last year. The number of passengers using the Red Line during the first quarter of this year amounted to 26,138,923 passengers, compared to 21,803,705 passengers lifted during the same period last year. The total number of users of the Green Line in the first quarter of this year soared to 14,517,055 riders compared to 11,537,390 riders last year. Deira City Centre station on the Red Line has topped passengers count clocking 1,841,072 passengers, with Burj Khalifa - Dubai Mall Station ranking close second with ridership hitting 1,813,854 passengers. The Union Station came third reporting 1,705,712 passengers, and Al Rigga Station was fourth in the passenger pecking order recording 1,626,775 passengers”
Al Ali went on saying, "Al Fahidi Station on the Green Line came first during the first quarter of 2014 recording a ridership of 1,657,650 passengers, followed by Bani Yas Station with 1,609,747 passengers, and in the third place came Al Ghubaiba Station recording 1,207,237 passengers, ahead of Oud Metha Station ranking fourth with ridership as much as 1,054,012 passengers.”
Source: Khaleej Times