Doha, April 08 (QNA) - Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) has started the services on the full Orange Line and Pink Line of the Lusail Tram to the public starting today.
All stations on the Orange Line are now fully operational with the opening of the new stations, including Naifa, Fox Hills - South, Downtown Lusail, Al Khayl Street, Fox Hills - North, Crescent Park - North, Rawdat Lusail, Erkiyah, Lusail Stadium, and Al Yasmeen.
The current service expansion also includes the opening of all Pink Line stations, starting from Legtaifiya and reaching Seef Lusail North, excluding Al Sa'ad Plaza station, which will be announced to be operational at a later time.
The newly opened stations will give direct access to several key attractions in Lusail city including Al Seef area, Crescent Park, the Lusail Boulevard and Al Maha Island.
This expansion further supports the public transportation system in Lusail City, providing safe and sustainable transportation services.
On this occasion, Chief of Program Delivery at Qatar Rail stated, Eng. Jassim Al Ansari, "We are pleased to announce the expansion of Lusail Tram services in Lusail City through the completion of the operations for all Orange Line stations and the launch of the Pink Line. We have successfully completed the operational testing for the current phase, which represents a significant milestone and a qualitative leap in our journey towards developing the public transportation system in Lusail City. By providing high-standard and reliable transportation services for customers, we aim to meet the needs of Lusail City's residents and visitors and enhance sustainable travel while reducing traffic congestion in the city." He added, "The expansion of Lusail Tram services reflects our commitment to achieving our vision of supporting Qatar's efforts in providing an integrated and sustainable transportation system. We are proud of the efforts made by the teams working on this important project, and we look forward to continuing to enhance tram services, expanding their scope, and opening the remaining lines to serve the residents and visitors of Lusail City." In this regard, Senior Project Director Lusail Tram, Eng. Ahmed Al-Saleh, stated, "At Qatar Rail, operating trams on Lusail streets can present significant road safety challenges. As a result, we've joined forces with our partners to initiate awareness campaigns focused on promoting road safety and responsible interaction with tram trains in Lusail City. This is particularly important considering that the tram system differs from other vehicles on the road. Trams run on fixed tracks at a steady speed and cannot stop as quickly as cars." He added, "We are dedicated to providing a sustainable and safe transportation for the residents and visitors of Lusail City. We remain committed to continuing our efforts in ensuring the highest standards of safety in the tram network to ensure safe and efficient operation at all stations and facilities." The Lusail Tram network covers a distance of 19 kilometers and consists of four lines (Orange, Pink, Purple, and Turquoise), connecting various government offices, residential towers, leisure and sports facilities, avenues, marinas, and other major attractions across Lusail City.
The Lusail Tram service operates during the same service hours as the Doha Metro: Saturday through Wednesday from 05:30 AM to 12:00 midnight. On Thursdays, the service runs from 05:30 AM to 01:00 AM, and on Fridays from 02:00 PM to 01:00 AM.
For the first time, the services of the tram network will include the operation of at-grade stations and the tram moving alongside traffic and pedestrians in Lusail City.
Since the start of operational testing for the tram network, Qatar Rail has coordinated with various partners in the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Interior to conduct awareness campaigns aimed at introducing the tram system and emphasizing the importance of pedestrians and drivers adhering to traffic safety guidelines, signs, and signals.
The Lusail Tram is both eco and user-friendly, providing a greener and more efficient alternative to cars. It relies on ground-level electric power supply, uses LED lighting systems, and state-of-the-art electric braking systems. Additionally, trams are much more efficient in terms of road usage, as one train can replace about 40 cars, which occupy a significantly larger area of road space. (QNA)