Doha Metro

The Doha Metro is a rapid transit system in Doha, Qatar's capital city, which became operational on 8 May 2019.[2] It has three lines with an approximate overall length of 76 km and 37 stations. It is an integral component of the larger Qatar Rail network, which will include a long-distance rail for passengers and freight, linking Qatar to the GCC, and the Lusail LRT. Capable of reaching 100 km/h, the Doha Metro will be one of the fastest driverless trains in the world.[3]

Doha Metro
Overview
Owner Qatar Rail
Area servedAl Wakra, Doha, lusail , Al Qassar, education City .
LocaleDoha
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines3
Number of stations37
HeadquartersDoha
WebsiteQatar Rail
Operation
Began operation8 May 2019
Operator(s)RKH Qitarat
(Hamad/Keolis-RATP Dev)[1]
Train length3
Headway2 – 5minutes
Technical
System length76 km (47 mi) (operational)
48.1 km (29.9 mi) (planned)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge
Top speed67 mph

Doha Metro is operated and maintained for a duration of 20 years by RKH Qitarat, a joint venture formed by Hamad Group (51%) and French transit operators Keolis and RATP Dev (49%), on behalf of system owner Qatar Rail.[1]

History

In 2009, Qatari Diar and Deutsche Bahn signed a joint venture to develop a concept for a railway network in Qatar. In 2011, Qatar Rail became the sole owner of the project while Deutsche Bahn with its global wing DB International (since 2016 DB Engineering & Consulting) took over the role of the main consultant and source for required railway experts.[4] In 2013, the construction of the Doha Metro officially began with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of Msheireb station.[5] Throughout early 2013, Qatar Rail released the D&B tenders and received submissions from various international firms to construct sections of Phase 1a, corresponding to the Red and Green Lines. In mid-May, Italian firm Salini Impregilo was awarded to manage the construction of the Red Line North segment, running from Msheireb to Al Khor North.[6] In June, it was revealed that QDVC and Porr were successful in their bids to lead the building of the Red Line South segment and Green Line, respectively.[7] In May 2014 a consortium of Larsen & Toubro, Aktor, Yapi Merkezi, STFA Group and Al Jaber Engineering was awarded to design and construct the Doha Metro Gold Line.[8] A total of 21 Tunnel boring machines from the German company Herrenknecht were planned for the tunnel construction for the Metro Phase 1.[9]

Metro network

Lines

The Doha Metro consists of three lines opening in phases from 2019 to 2020,[10] with an eventual completion date of 2026.[11] The Red, Green and Gold Lines radiate out from a central interchange at Msheireb in Downtown Doha.[11]

A view of the completed Al Wakrah metro station, part of the Red Line, in June 2019
Line Inaugural date Length Stations Termini Status
Red Line 8 May 2019 (Al Qassar to Al Wakra)

10 December 2019 (Hamad International Airport, Katara, Qatar University and Lusail)

 40 km 18 Lusail
Hamad International Airport
Al Wakra		 Fully operational.
Green Line 10 December 2019[12] 22 km 11 Al Riffa
Al Mansoura		 Fully operational.[13]
Gold Line 21 November 2019[14][15] 14 km 11 Al Azizyah
Ras Bu Aboud		 Fully operational.
Blue Line 2025 17.5 km 14 Hamad International Airport Terminal 2
West bay		 Under construction.
TOTAL: 93 km 51

Doha Metro Phase 1 is implemented by multiple joint ventures involving local and international contractors. Qatar Rail has previously specified that consortiums looking to build different parts of the network should partner with a Qatari firm, which has led to companies such as Qatar Building Company, Galfar Al-Misnad Engineering, Al Darwish and HBK Contracting all picking up work alongside international bidders.[16]

Red Line North (Underground): The Red Line North starts from Msheireb station in the South to Al Khor in the North. Seven underground stations are proposed along this route up to Doha Golf Club, from where it will be over the ground to reach Al Khor. A Joint Venture (JV) led by Italy's Salini Impregilo, South Korea's SK Engineering and Construction, and Galfar Al Misnad has been chosen as the D&B contractor.[17]

Red Line North (Elevated & at-grade): A Joint Venture (JV) consortium comprising Korea's Lotte Engineering & Construction, Rizzani de Eccher of Italy and Redco of Qatar has been chosen as the D&B contractor.

Red Line South (Underground): The Red Line South extends from Msheireb in the North to Mesaieed in the South. It is planned to have six underground stations. The D&B JV contractors are Qatari Diar VINCI Construction (QDVC), GS Engineering and Construction, and Al Darwish Engineering.[18]

Red Line South (Elevated & at-grade): The Joint Venture led by Spain's FCC and comprising Turkey's Yuksel, Netherlands’ Archirodon and Qatar's Petroserv has been selected as the D&B contractor for the line. The scope of work involves full design and construction of the Red Line section along Al Wakra Highway.[19]

Green Line: The Green Line, which also has both underground and Elevated and at-grade sections, extends from Msheireb in the East to Al Riffa in Doha West. The project's D&B contract of the Green line underground project has been given to a JV led by PORR Bau (UG-Lead partner), QD-Saudi Bin Laden Group (Elevated-Lead Partner) and Hamad Bin Khalid Contracting.[20]

Gold Line: The Gold Line connects nine underground stations and D&B contractor is ALYSJ JV led by Greece's Ellaktor and comprising Larsen and Toubro (India), YapiMerkezi (Turkey), STFA (Turkey) and Al Jaber Engineering (Qatar).[21]

Stations
Construction of the Red Line in February 2018

Doha Metro will have around 100 stations for the entire network when the project is completed. This will include a major station built at Msheireb, hub for the Metro network and the interchange for Red, Green and Gold Lines.[11] As the stations play an important part – both practically and culturally – of any metro system, Qatar Rail chose to integrate the Qatar culture in the operating system by naming the metro stations after historical towns and cities, each carrying its own story and background.[22]

Phase 1

Red Line (Coastal Line)

North-South Line connecting the towns of Lusail, West Bay, Msheireb, Hamad International Airport and Al Wakra.

Green Line (Education Line)

The Green Line follows Al Rayyan Road connecting Education City with the Heart of Doha. Furthermore, it links to Umm Salal and the Industrial Area South.

Gold Line (Historic Line)

Runs in an East-West direction and connects Airport City North via central Msheireb with Al Waab Street, Al Rayyan South and Salwa Road.

Most stations will offer free feeder buses to places near the stations. standards tickets cost 2 QAR each for one way, whilst gold club tickets cost 10 QAR each.

Phase 2

This would be updated when Qatar Rail has announced the stations for the next phase. This phase contains Blue Line. This would probably be announced in the end of 2020. This project is estimated to finish in 2025/6.

Design

The Doha Metro stations design was selected in October 2013 by the Emir of Qatar.[23] The design is called "Vaulted Spaces"; it is derived from the historic Islamic architecture as it uses the old Islamic architectural element in a modern way. UNStudio, the company responsible of the metro stations design, highlighted the region's vernacular architecture, acting as a bridge between the country's past and future.[24] One of the key elements of the design is that it gives the exterior shape of the station, by using modern bright materials to simulate the interior of an oyster. The levels of the station will be opened to each other to give passengers the feeling of comfort, also merging the functions of lighting and ventilation in the shapes of the arches. The "Vaulted Spaces" design was selected out of a total of six proposals and master plans for the Doha Metro stations.

The specific trains used were designed by the Kinkisharyo Industrial Design Office in collaboration with the German Design firm Tricon Design, to help reflect the culture of Qatar. The Emir is known to have personally selected the exterior design of the train, inspired by the shape of an Arabian horse.[25]

In May 2016, Consolidated Contractors (CCC) took over[26] the contract for the Msheireb and Education City stations, from a joint venture of Samsung C&T Corporation (S. Korea), Obrascon Huarte Lein (Spain), and Qatar Building Company.[27]

Technology

Rolling stock

The 75 three-car driverless trainsets for the metro system will be supplied jointly by Japanese companies Mitsubishi Corporation and Kinki Sharyo.[28] The first four sets were delivered in August 2017.[29]

Signaling, telecommunication and security system

Thales of France will supply the train control signaling, telecommunication, a security system, an operations control center and an automatic fare collection system.[30]

Track and power supply

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will supply the track and power supply. The company will also supply the platform screen doors and tunnel ventilation and will be responsible with overall project management and system integration.[31]

Bored tunnels

The Metro network will cover the Greater Doha area and will include connections to town centers and main commercial and residential areas throughout the city. In central Doha, the Metro will be underground, whilst at the outskirts it will mainly be at ground level or elevated.[32] For the underground works, Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) is importing Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). 21 TBMs will be used to cut holes 20 meters beneath the city's ground for all the lines.

Each of the TBMs for the Doha Metro measures 7.05m in diameter and 120m in length.[33] To ensure successful transportation, the machines are dismantled into sections, including the cutter head.

Each TBM will travel a distance of between 7–9 km and will take approx. 2 years to complete their respective journeys. The TBM average speed will be between 12m/day to 21m/day, depending on ground conditions. Daily excavation quantity will be over 600m³, with an estimated predicted total excavation quantity of over 5,000,000m³.[34][35]

Qatar Rail has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records for having "The Largest Number of Tunnel Boring Machines Operating Simultaneously in a Single Project", marking a milestone for large-scale transport projects in Qatar and across the region.[36] With this recognition, the company has broken the previous world record, which had set an initial benchmark of 19 simultaneously operational TBMs.[37]

In 2017, Qatar Rail received the prestigious ITA Award from the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association for the Major Project of the year 2017. Doha Metro project was nominated under the category of "Projects exceed 500 Million Euros" and won the award after being shortlisted with other three mega projects from each of Canada, Iran and India. ITA awards are considered the highest award in the world in the field of tunneling and underground projects.[38]

Safety and security

Safety and Security measures are applied throughout the drilling phase of the underground Doha Metro works. The planned procedures involve elements that can guarantee a safe working environment, far from the risks of injuries, including managing emergency cases and treating them swiftly. The safety & security program of Qatar's Railway focuses on the emergency planning and response on the railway network while taking into consideration the unique nature of mass transit systems when planning for and implementing the program.[39] The transport policies, security models addressing the legal and regulatory issues, as well as the relationships between the involved institutions[39] are also part of the safety and security plan that Qatar Rail Company is leading in Doha.

In September 2014, Qatar Rail, the owner and manager of Qatar's rail network and the responsible for the design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the entire rail network and system,[40] has held a strategic workshop on the safety, security and resilience of the country's railway network in consultation with UK and Qatari experts. The company proposed its safety and security programme, along with its recommendations and a full roadmap towards the future operation stage of the railway.[41]

In June 2014, it was announced that the Doha Metro Green Line Project achieved 6 million work hours without a lost time injury (LTI).[42]

Operation

The Metro System will be operated as a system with Automatic train operation as Grade of Operation, level 4 (GoA 4). GoA 4 is unattended train operation (UTO) where starting and stopping, operation of doors and handling of emergencies are fully automated without any on-train staff.

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References
  1. (in French) "Victoire pour Keolis et RATP Dev au Qatar". 7 December 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  2. "Doha Metro, Qatar". Railway Technology. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  3. "First Doha Metro trains arrive in Qatar – The Peninsula Qatar". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  4. Qatar Rail. Building one of the modest modern railway networks in the world. 'Littlegate Publishing' Retrieved 1 April 2018
  5. "Qatar breaks ground on Doha Metro". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  6. Italy's Impregilo leads $2bn Doha Metro deal win Arabian Business Retrieved 19 June 2013
  7. Two more Doha Metro contracts awarded Construction Week Online Retrieved 19 June 2013
  8. Doha Gold Line design and construction awarded'Railway Gazette International' Retrieved 31 May 2014
  9. Championship alliance in Doha 'Herrenknecht References' Retrieved 25 September 2016
  10. "FAQs". Qatar Rail. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  11. "Doha Metro". Qatar Rail. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  12. "Doha Metro to open Green Line for public from December 10". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  13. Tram, Doha Metro & Lusail (9 December 2019). "Our network is now open!pic.twitter.com/N5ITxo7Prf". @metrotram_qa. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  14. Tram, Doha Metro & Lusail (1 November 2019). "We are pleased to announce the launch of the preview service for the Doha Metro Gold Line, Visit http://www.qr.com.qa for more information or follow us @metrotram_qapic.twitter.com/LQ1nTHrbfr". @metrotram_qa. Retrieved 19 November 2019. External link in |title= (help)
  15. والاتصالات, المواصلات (1 November 2019). "MOTC announces start of trial operation of Doha Metro Gold Line this Thursday, November 21.pic.twitter.com/YDrgcCBIh6". @MOTC_QA. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  16. "Qatar Rail encourages local firms to bid for work". Construction Week. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  17. "Qatar Railways receives four tunnel boring machines for Metro project". BQ Doha. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  18. "Qatar Rail awards Doha Metro contracts worth $8.2bn". Railway Technology. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  19. "Doha Metro Project". Yuksel. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  20. "More Doha metro contracts awarded". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  21. "Greek-led consortium wins $4.4bn bid to build Doha Metro's Gold Line". Doha News. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  22. "Doha Metro". Qatar Rail. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  23. "Doha Metro design given green light". Gulf Times. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  24. "UNStudio designs stations for phase one of the doha metro". Designboom. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  25. "doha metro Archives – Doha News". Doha News. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  26. "Qatar Rail cancels Doha Metro station contract". 8 May 2016.
  27. "Doha Metro – The Major Stations". Construction Week. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  28. "Doha metro rolling stock and railway systems contract awarded". Railway Gazette International. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  29. First Doha metro trains arrive in Qatar International Railway Journal 21 August 2017
  30. Laura Onita (20 February 2015). "Japanese-led consortium to build Doha Metro rail systems". Engineering & Technology. The Institution of Engineering and Technology. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  31. "Mitsubishi Heavy, partners to supply subway system to Qatar". Nikkei Asian Review. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  32. "Doha Metro". Qatar Rail. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  33. "Qatar Rail receives first Doha TBM". Tunnels Online. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  34. "Doha Metro 16% complete". Doha News. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  35. "Qatar Rail Receives a Set of Four New TBMs for Doha Metro". Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  36. "Qatar Rail TBMs entered into Guinness Records". Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  37. "Qatar's Tbm Guinness Record". Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  38. "2017 ITA Tunnelling Awards winners". Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  39. "Qatar Rail issues a strategic program for railway's safety and security". Zawya. 2 September 2014.
  40. "About Us". Qatar Rail.
  41. "Qatar Rail workshop discusses safety and security". Arabian Industry. 3 September 2014.
  42. "Qatar Rail achieves 6mn man-hours incident-free safety record". 2014-06-14. 14 June 2014.
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