Route 2020 Project Profile: Dubai’s High-Tech Metro Expansion

The Route 2020 project is a 15km extension of Dubai’s Red Line, engineered to provide high-capacity, automated mass transit to the Expo 2020 site and key developing communities. This profile details the project’s technical specifications, from its TBM-bored tunnels to its LEED Gold-certified stations. It serves as a benchmark for integrating advanced signaling, sustainable design, and long-term urban connectivity into modern railway infrastructure.

Technical Specifications

Route and Civil Engineering: The Route 2020 alignment extends from the Jebel Ali interchange station to the Expo 2020 site, passing through densely populated areas. A significant civil engineering component was the 3.2km twin-bored tunnel running between Discovery Gardens and the Green Community, constructed at depths of 12.5m to 36m using the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) ‘Wugeisha EXPO 2020’. The 11.8km of elevated viaducts were completed in late 2018. The project includes seven new stations, including the iconic wing-shaped terminal at the Expo site. All stations achieved LEED Gold certification, reflecting a high standard of sustainable design and construction.

Rolling Stock and Systems: The project was supplied with 50 new Alstom Metropolis trainsets. Fifteen are dedicated to serving Route 2020, while the remaining 35 were deployed to increase capacity across the entire Red Line. These trains feature upgraded interior designs, energy-efficient LED lighting, and a fully electronic braking system to reduce environmental impact. To support the expanded fleet, the Jebel Ali depot was significantly enlarged and upgraded.

Signaling and Automation: Thales Group was contracted to supply and integrate the driverless train signaling technology, building upon the existing Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system. This advanced automation ensures high operational efficiency, with a journey time of just 16 minutes from Dubai Marina to the Expo site. Thales also provided integrated security, communications, and fare collection systems, ensuring seamless passenger experience and centralized operational control.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Event-Driven Infrastructure: The project successfully leveraged a global event (Expo 2020) as a catalyst for permanent infrastructure development, creating a lasting legacy of enhanced connectivity for southern Dubai’s residential and commercial hubs.
• Benchmark in Sustainable Design: Achieving LEED Gold certification for all new stations sets a regional standard for environmentally conscious transit development, integrating energy efficiency and sustainable materials into large-scale public infrastructure.
• Future-Proofing Connectivity: With a planned 6km extension to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), the project establishes a crucial rail corridor linking Dubai’s two major international airports, vital for the city’s long-term economic and logistical growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When did the Dubai Route 2020 metro line open?

The Route 2020 metro extension began passenger services in phases, becoming fully operational in 2021 to serve the Expo 2020 event and surrounding communities.

Who built the Route 2020 extension?

The construction was undertaken by the Expolink consortium, which includes Alstom for rolling stock and systems, and Acciona and Gulermak for civil engineering works. Thales Group provided the critical signaling and automation technology.