Inside the Dubai Tram Depot

Gulf News

Gulf News goes inside the Dubai Tram Depot for a behind the scenes look at the operations of Dubai's newest mode of public transportation. See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv

Transcript

00:00The Dubai Tram represents the RTA's latest effort to ease traffic congestion and lower

00:10Dubai's carbon footprint by increasing public transport options for residents of the emirate.

00:15The tram employs state-of-the-art technology to ensure public safety and a consistently

00:20reliable schedule for its passengers.

00:22Gulf News was given access to the Dubai Tram depot for a glimpse behind the scenes into

00:26the tram's operations.

00:27This is one of our main workshops for the Dubai Tram.

00:33In Dubai Tram we have 11 trams that we are responsible for maintaining them, all kind

00:41of maintenance we are doing, all kind of maintenance activity that we are doing here in this depot.

00:48The trams stay in the stabling shade, all of them, like a parking for the trams.

00:55We are doing only cleaning there, parking the trams and cleaning.

01:00So early morning we send the trams to the service, depends on how many trams required

01:07from the operation side.

01:08So they tell us we need this number of trams to be sent, so we prepare the trams for them.

01:14We are doing every 15 days the maintenance for the tram, it is like inspection, cleaning,

01:20air condition filter, checking air condition health overall, taking some readings, again

01:27visual inspection.

01:28After 15 days we have 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, plus plus, plus 3.

01:38So we do oil changing, transmission oil changing, wheel checking, we do wheel profile, we have

01:46the machines here.

01:47Actually this depot is equipped with all kind of equipment that required to maintain

01:53those trams.

01:54We have here 4 tracks, 4 tracks that we can cater for full tracks, ok, and as you see

02:02we have 4 levels of maintenance people, they can work on the tram at the same time.

02:08One is underneath the tram itself, ok, so someone can work underneath the tram, one

02:16can work on the side, so this is level 2, and then one can work on top of the tram,

02:23and then we have those doors that we can also work aside of the tram if there is anything.

02:29So all of these levels, all of these people they can work at the same time, so some people

02:34if they have some activity under the frame they can do it, inside the tram, outside and

02:39on the roof, they can do all of these activities at the same time, yes.

02:43So in Dubai Tram we have the new system which is, this is first time to be out of Europe,

02:51we call it APS, it is ground feeder, and it moves with the tram, so whenever the tram

02:59is moving this power is going, switching on and off, on and off based on the location

03:04of the tram.

03:05So if there is any activity or we want to remove the boogie, the boogie is like the

03:10engine of the tram itself, so we can dismantle it and then lift it, the boogie will stay

03:16here and we can bring it and do any activity that we require to do it, replace it or check

03:22it or anything.

03:24We have 6 boogies on this tram and 5 of them with the traction motor and one without traction

03:30motors.

03:31We clean the track from any sands or anything that obstructing the train or can derail the

03:39train, so we do all the time the cleaning of the tracks and the side of the tracks also.

03:45The Operation Control Centre, OCC, is the central hub of the operation.

03:50Here the tram is being constantly monitored by highly trained individuals who are tasked

03:54with the job of keeping all the tram's operations working like a well-oiled machine.

03:58We have the chief controller, who is Mr. Mohamed, now he is on duty, and then we have the security

04:05and information controller, the lady over there, and then we have the service controller

04:09who is always in touch with the tram drivers on the field for any service update or if

04:15there is any assistance that the tram driver needs from the OCC.

04:23The lower screen shows different information, shows the position of every tram on the service

04:29and also shows the electrical system behind the tram, as well as the junctions of the

04:35tram, every junction that the tram is passing through.

04:39Also the operating systems, like SCADA system and the scheduling system of the tram is being

04:45displayed on the left-hand side of the screen.

04:49The top screen is for security purposes.

04:51You will see over 700 or over 800 cameras protecting the tram station, the tram itself

04:59within the cabins, the tramway and the depot.

05:03So all these cameras are being displayed in the top-level screen.

05:08The first thing that we do to ensure people's safety and the tram, as you all know, is being

05:13operated by a driver, it is not driverless like the metro.

05:18So we use this machine before every tram driver takes the keys of the tram and proceeds to

05:24the tram, they have to pass the alcohol test first.

05:27So we know that the tram driver is conscious all the time without any influence of alcohol

05:35or any medication that can affect his vigilance.

05:40The number of tram commuters is steadily growing and it has quickly become a staple means of

05:43travel for a large number of Dubai's population who live in the Marina JBR areas.

05:48This translates into less cars on the road, less traffic to wade through on a daily basis

05:52and most importantly, a reduced carbon footprint for everyone living in Dubai.

05:57Logan Fish for Gulf News.

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