It's a bird,it's a plane,it's Qatar Train :-)
Well, well, well, I never thought I would live to see the day when a railway network would come to Doha…
If these artist’s impressions are anything to go by, then Qatar is going to have a rollicking railway network soon. I have been to metro and other railway networks around the world. And these pictures (if it indeed gets made this way) make me feel that they are the best I have seen so far.
A friend forwarded this mail to me and I thought it would be worthwhile to share. The deal to build the system has already been signed.
Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, has entered into a JV with German-based Deutsche Bahn AG (DB), one of the world's leading passenger and logistics companies, to create the Qatar Railways Development Company (QRDC).
The signing ceremony took place at the Emiri Diwan in Doha, and included high-level ministerial-level delegations from Qatar and Germany.
Qatar Railways Development Company, a 51-49 joint venture between Qatari Diar, represented by Qatar Railways Company, and DB, will be the sole entity responsible for developing and integrating Qatar’s visionary railway network, encompassing a range of transport modes such as metro systems, long distance passenger travel, and freight transport.
QRDC will unify all planned railways in Qatar, including the Doha metro, Lusail light rail, and West Bay people movers. QRDC will also connect Qatar’s network to neighboring countries via the Bahrain-Qatar causeway, to create the region’s first fully integrated railway system
QRDC has completed an initial study, and agreed on the concept design for the integrated railway network.
These are a few of the railway networks that will be integrated together.
1. An east coast rail link, a passenger and freight railway linking Ras Laffan and Mesaieed via Doha
2. A high speed link between the New Doha International Airport, Doha City Center, and Kingdom of Bahrain via the causeway bridge
3. A freight rail link based on the GCC rail and Doha expressway studies
4. A comprehensive Doha Metro Network based on the Qatar Transport Master Plan
5. Multiple Light-rail people mover networks, such as in Lusail, Education City and Westbay
c'mon jack frost, that comment is a bit below the belt !
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you only have to work it out.
If you had to wait in the hot sun for bus to turn up( no ac shelter like dubai), and the air conditioning never works properly you too would smell bad. also add that the group of people most likely to use the bus will be on low salaries, poor working conditions and have poor accomodation, then you can imagine that hygenie is not a top priority. the fact that the asians ( not just indians )fall into this trap, then you can see why there is racial generalisation here in qatar.
I would be more concerned about locals smoking on the train despite the emirs decree of no smoking. I wait for the first excuse of "its my country".
a train system is much needed in this part of the world as populations grow with requirement for passenger and freight traffic.
However I would be interested if anyone could answer the question as to how the gulf regions railways could connect up to the rest of the world since it mean s going through KSA.... and if you are a woman you can't travel through KSA without hsuband / relative ( another blow to modernisation in the gulf )
anyway ... a great idea, lets hope they can pull it off.
Regards
Rules are a guideline for intelligent people, but they must be adhered to by idiots.
awsome ..
Pay peanuts & you get Monkeys
Every city over a certain size need a viable public transport and I commend Qatar for trying to get its act together.
Yes it is a chicken and egg situation. Population will not leave their car behind without a viable public transport system and a public transport system will be much harder to build if the car culture is too entrenched.
As to the argument that the nationals will not want to mingle with 'sweaty and stinky expats', a trip to the confined alleys of souq waqif shows that that's not always be the case.
Even if it is true then why not start with us expats. In the beginning it may be that low paid expats that take the train, but I believe the 'middle and higher level' will soon follow suit if they see the virtue of taking public transport instead of sitting for an hour in the traffic jam.
One can always hope....
SK
This is just a whole waste of money,nobody really needs this facility here in qatar,let alone nationals,instead of investing billions of riyals in this project,why can't that money be used to invest in generating employment,building affordable housing,education,hospitals the list is endless!
Let them at least build a overhead bridge over the D-Ring road near the lulu hypermarket,that's what the public really needs!!
actually i haven't seen the NDIA that's why i couldnt comment on that...
DON'T LET FANTASY ROB YOU OF YOUR REAL LIFE BEAUTY
are they going to allow bachelors on these trains? especially on fridays?
Dubai Airport finished in 5 years, in NDIA construction started in 2004 and you can see how complete it is. That should answer your question.
dubai metro finish less than 5 yrs why can't qatar do?
DON'T LET FANTASY ROB YOU OF YOUR REAL LIFE BEAUTY
Nicely arranged report!
I wish I could see it working!
this trains are merely for the eyes to the rest of the world only. when it comes to functionality... thumbs down. just like they'd done with the Tower at the Khalifa Stadium... that's how elusive Qataris are to decorate their country, just a whole waste of money.
and a comfort for pennyless...
but i rather ride my poor little car than ride along way with a smelly bus or train!!
If they want it to be one of the card to draw the FIFA bid, then at least one line will need to be finished within a year. Not impossible if they throw a lot of money into it.
In my opinion, they have many more important things to do with this 25 Billion USD's and thru this 10 years...
come on, they can finish all the streets and bridges,..etc with this amount of money,...they claim atht all their problems with contractors is money..
and who will use the trains,..!! personally, I don't need them as I am not using the buses, petrol is cheap, cars are available, distances are short...!!!
They must finish it off before 2022 as they need to show this to FIFA.
are u serious about 2036? I think it will be finished by 2020
10 years is more than enough!
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I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
2036 is the official date for the project finalization.
Don't pop the champagne just yet...it's going to take 16 years to be up & running...& if this town's record with deadlines on public projects is anything to go by,that'll be more like 20 years or so...unless of course we all plan to stick around for the next 20 odd years waiting for the trains?...NOT...
if this train network is actually built here in qatar,nothing much would change as far as attitudes are concerned,people would NEVER leave their cars,it's a social culture here in the gulf.
These trains are too small and won't work as they can not accomodate the LC. DO you think that local people will leave the comfort of there LC and walk to these train stations and sit with other nationalities? Don't think so. Until the oil and gas runs out these trains are merely gonna be used by low paid expats?
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"HE WHO DARES WINS"
Derek Edward Trotter
lol UkEng, naturally, those attached to their LCs will be banned from riding the train... :P
this will pass industrial area?^_^
wow..i hope this really happens..& i hope i can still try it if it happens..hahaha
This requires "skilled" slaves!
Also gonna be built by slave labour?
Knowing how bad the buses smell, how long will it take for teh trains to be the same.. stink traps,,, and where wil they run to..... doha to Mesieed. and doha to Al kohr..
Rules are a guideline for intelligent people, but they must be adhered to by idiots.