The
first Water Bus, also termed as the ‘iceberg’ in the Dubai
Creek would start operating from August 16. The first route will link
Al Sabkha and Bur Dubai stations.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President
and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the
Water Bus service on July 17.The Water Bus is expected to ferry over
two million passengers annually.
H.
H Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai
Executive Council, has issued an order under which the RTA has been
given the authority of licensing, registering, operating and planning
the routes of the Water Bus service.
The air-conditioned water bus will have a capacity of 36 passengers.
The RTA will spend AED1.5 billion to have an integrated water transport
service as part of our marine transport strategic plan 2020. The 10
water buses will complement the existing traditional Abra service
on the creek.
Around two million passengers are expected to use the water bus service
annually to commute in Dubai Creek.The water buses will be operated
on four routes serving five stations on both sides of the Dubai Creek.
It will operate from five stations including: Sabka and Baniyas on
Deira side of the creek and Al Ghubaiba, Dubai Old Souk and Al Seef
Street stations on Bur Dubai side.
The first route of the water bus linking Al Sabkha Station Deira with
Al Ghubaiba Station in Dubai will start on August 16 whereas other
three routes will be operational from September. Eight out of 10 buses
will be used for passengers to cross the creek while two water buses
will be reserved for tourists. The water bus for tourists will be
available from Al Seef Station every 30 minutes.
The operation will be seven days a week for 18 hours every day from
6am to 12 midnight with 15 minutes headway time between trips. The
RTA has tasked the operation and maintenance of the Water Bus to the
Singaporean Penguin Company.
The RTA is working on its marine transport strategic plan 2020 to
serve the existing and upcoming on and off shore residential and commercial
developments with modern water transport system. The RTA will spend
AED1.5 billion to launch 210 km water transport routes as part plan
by the year 2020.
Dubai's coastline has increased from 70 km to 360 km due to new off
shore developments such as Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, The World,
The Business Bay and the Dubai Water Front. The studies project that
around 62 million people are expected to use the public water transport
by 2020.
