Doha Metro project more than 73% completed, says transport minister

Construction work at the Doha Metro project is more than 73% complete, according to HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, who said the multi-billion Qatari riyal facility would be ready for public use by 2020.

Speaking to reporters at the metro’s Economic Zone Station, al-Sulaiti stressed that 2017 “was a year of significant milestones” for Qatar Rail. “Progress exceeded 73% on the Doha Metro, and 69% on the Lusail Tram project,” he said.

Al-Sulaiti, along with other key officials, accompanied HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, who inspected ongoing work at the state-of-the-art station located at the F-Ring Road and Al Wakrah Road Intersection.

According to al-Sulaiti, Qatar Rail had already received 20 trains. Qatar Rail deputy CEO Hamad Ibrahim al-Bishri, who spoke on the sidelines of the inspection, said of the total 75 trains, 55 more trains are to be received by the company.

On Qatar’s transport sector’s “unprecedented success” in 2017, al-Sulaiti said: “We have come by leaps and bounds in laying the foundations for our connected nation and the Doha Metro project forms the fundamental backbone of the integrated public transport system supporting Qatar’s National Vision 2030. We look forward to further progress being made by Qatar Rail in 2018 as a vital contributor to the implementation of the key transport infrastructure project.

“We are on track to deliver this new and paramount transport solution to the nation when the network becomes operational in 2020. The progress made and challenges overcome are a testament to the wise guidance of our judicious leadership, His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and the close supervision of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani made expectations not only being met, but exceeded.”

Al-Sulaiti said the guidance of HH the Emir “facilitated the progress” of Qatar Rail projects, which was translated to “key tangible achievements.”

“From creating sufficient capacity at Hamad Port to handle the import of materials necessary for the successful completion of the projects to the relocation of the Building Automation & Control System (BACS) Centre for the Doha Metro Stations from Dubai to Doha, we can promise the nation that we are on track for a fully operational service by 2020,” al-Sulaiti emphasised.

Civil engineering works were all completed in 2017. The focus has now shifted onto mechanical, electrical and plant (MEP) works and architectural fit-out in stations. Progress of MEP works reached 56% and final MEP testing and commissioning has begun on the Red Line up to Al Qassar. Façade installation was completed in the elevated sections of the Red Line and internal fit-out is well progressed.

Last year also saw the completion of track-laying activities in the Depot, with both Section 1 (Red Line up to Al Qassar) and all of the elevated parts of Green Line completed. A total of 106km of track was laid in 2017.

Rail in the depot and first sections of the mainline was energised and first sections of the Red Line are now operating for testing and commissioning. At least 25,000km endurance testing of trains was completed, as was medium voltage cabling for the first section of the mainline and depot. Platform screen doors, an essential safety feature of the system, also underwent endurance testing with more than 1mn cycles performed.