3 bus routes launched in Dubai; 2 cancelled

Three new bus routes were launched in Dubai, serving communities such as Al Nahda, International City, Festival City, Oud Metha, Mankhool and the Dubai Mall area.

Launched on the first day of Eid, the three routes depart from bus stations in Al Nahda, Stadium, and Dubai Mall heading to different destinations in the emirate, explained Maitha bin Adai, CEO of the Traffic and Road Agency (TRA) at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The first new route F23 is a metro station feeder service that starts from Al Nahda and heads towards International City with a service frequency of 8, 10 and 15 minutes during peak times using double decker buses.

The second Route 23 starts from Stadium Metro Station and heads towards Al Nahda Station with a service frequency of 20 minutes during peak times, also using double decker buses.

Standard buses will be operated on a third new route 28. This route starts at Dubai Mall and heads to Lamcy Plaza with a service frequency of 20 minutes during peak times.

While new bus routes have been added to the bus network of the emirate, two bus routes were stopped - F42, which ran from Nahkeel Harbour Metro Station to Discovery Gardens, and 42 which ran from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Dubai Airport Terminal 1.

A couple of other bus routes have been modified. While routes 4, 11A, 44, 365, 366, F3, F5, F10 have been modified to include Rashidiya Metro Station, the routes E307, 88, C19, and 22 now include Deira City Centre Metro Station.

Route F53 at Industrial City has been extended to Workers Village and the path of route F22 has been modified at Al Nahda.

Timetables of Routes F46, F48, 43, 367, and F12 will be revised on Saturdays, and Route 22 will be served by double decker buses instead of regular buses.

During the first half of 2014, public bus ridership soared to 67.5 million riders compared with 59.1 million riders during the same period last year. Likewise, public bus occupancy improved by 8 per cent to 42.6 per cent, and the waiting time of the metro feeder services as well as all public buses was reduced to seven minutes.

“The RTA is keen on broadening and upgrading public bus network to keep pace with the urbanisations and demographic growth rates seen by the emirate of Dubai,” said Eisa, adding that the surge in ridership eases traffic congestion, curbs accidents, raises traffic safety awareness and considerably reduces pollution caused by the large number of vehicles on roads.
 

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