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Dubai, June 22: The contract also includes an option for phase two of the tram project, which was  originally awarded to the consortium in late April. Alstom said the project should go into commercial service in 2011 and will initially include the provision of 11 trams and the construction of a ten kilometre line with 13 stations.

Phase two would involve another 14 trams as well as an additional four kilometres of track and six stations, the company added. Alstom, which claimed over 60 other cities had a tramway project scheduled for the next few years, said it was taking steps to “protect the integrity of historical city centres and high-quality architectural environments”. As such, it is implementing technology to enable a street-level power supply system.

“This type of modern tramway is becoming a must in urban transport policy because they make it possible to offer sustainable mobility, to rethink and re-energise urban space,” Alstom said. “Al Safooh tram stops will be fitted with specially designed automatic platform doors to enable street-level air-conditioning for maximum passenger comfort,” it added.