Dubai Metro breaks down on day one

Gregg Carlstrom | September 10, 2009 9:21 AM | 0 | recommend (0) |   |      

Dubai's gleaming new $7.6 billion Metro system was inaugurated at a glittery ceremony last night. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid took the first ride at 9:09 p.m. (on 9/9/09, no less), and everything went according to plan. The new system features trains with air conditioning and wireless Internet, according to The National.

Dubai Metro ride

Today, though -- the first day of passenger service -- the system wasn't quite so flawless.

A Dubai Metro train that broke down after reaching Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station left the station around 11.55am on Thursday after more than two hours... around 70 passengers trying out the Metro for leisure and work were stranded for more than two hours.

Almost makes me wonder if Dubai contracted the engineering work to WMATA...

Kidding aside, this is the first subway system in the Gulf, and Dubai is (rightly) proud of it. (Cairo has the first subway system in the Arab world.)

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Categories: Life and Culture, Regional News, United Arab Emirates

Tags: Dubai Metro, public transportation, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid

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